Cardio only day

5 min walk/jog to gym
10 min elliptical
8 min row machine
5 min treadmill
5 min walk home
5 min stretching

B: Natures Path cereal with blueberries & almond milk
S: Apple and Ryvita with natural peanut butter
L: Vegan chili with crackers
S: Grapes and 1/2 cookie
D: Beans with brown rice and veggies

5L water :)

I am sore today! I also realized that I have not been pushing myself at the gym these past few months, so although my times look short it's because I was actually kicking my own butt on the machines. Hehehe

Edited to add:

Oh! I forgot to mention the neatest game on the row machines at the gym!! They have this setting for "Fish Game", and you're this little automated fish that has to move up and down, trying to eat smaller fish and avoid bigger fish. You automatically float to the bottom until you use the rower machine to pull and that gives you a burst in the upwards direction. So to move quickly away, you have to row quickly!! Each round is 4 minutes, and at the end it tells you how many metres you rowed, as well as your average speed, and points earned for fish. It was SO FUN!! I could see myself getting addicted to that machine. I wish all workout machines had games like that!!

Packing and Moving

Workout Length: 30 minutes
Calories Burned: 359 (55% fat)

I only did 30 minutes on the treadmill this morning because I earned 13 APs yesterday, and I have to pack and move a bunch of my stuff this afternoon. I don't want to exhaust myself! If I'm feeling up to it this evening I'll take a walk, but I figure 30 mins would be okay, for today :)

I did do interval walk/run again... 1 minute run, 1 minute walk, then after I was tired I started doing 1 minute run, 2 minute walk. It worked good! I will keep up with that this week and then next week start the 90 second run 90 second walk (which is basically week 1 of Couch to 5K.)

Hot Yoga

Workout Length: 1 hr 45 mins
Calories Burned: 1102 (55% fat)

Even though I suck at it, I love yoga. I especially love hot yoga. It's so intense... you're sweating so hard it's literally dripping off of you... you can see it rolling down your arms and your clothes become so soaked you may as well have just jumped into a lake.

I went a few times in the winter but I had a bad ankle and I hadn't been exercising regularly. I couldn't do many of the poses without using a wall to lean on or modifying them to work for me. I went back today after a month of working out 6 days per week and I was MUCH better! I am no where near good... not even close... but I was able to hold most poses for most of the duration, and at least I could hold my balance a little better.

Anyways... I have earned 13 APs today... time to eat dinner :)

I'm working on it...

I went to the gym this morning and did 30 minutes on the elliptical. I'm about to head to my mom's house to do some housekeeping - which always makes me sweat. I'm going to eat well again today and try to get in as much water as possible! I think not drinking enough water was a big reason I didn't lose last week (apart from dropping my exercise amount).

When I got dressed this morning I had a hard time picking out a shirt. It's really warm out and I have this nice brown tanktop that I like. I *hate* my arms though. They are misproportionately larger than the rest of my upper body. I have skinny forearms and then really flabby upper arms. It bugs me :(

I looked in the mirror and decided that I'm just going to wear the shirt anyways. I need to start accepting myself and not judging myself. It's time to just be who I am, and take comfort that I'm actively changing things I don't like about myself.

I can feel the muscle under there... it's actually pretty big and hard. I have never really had a bicep before so that's cool! lol... but I still can't wait 'til the chub has melted off of my arms and you can actually SEE the muscle.

Alright... off to be productive. I have bootcamp in the morning and I'd like to get a good night sleep tonight so that I can give it 100% :)

Tried to Work Out

Workout Length: 20 mins
Calories Burned: 284 (55% fat)

I dragged my butt to the gym this morning, but I only stayed 20 minutes. My mind is not in it with all this stuff happening in my personal life. I had 3 different people ask me where I was yesterday, and I kept hearing music that made me want to cry. I just want to curl up in a ball and not go to work, or the gym, or anywhere :(

'Nother Evening Workout

Workout Length: 30 mins
Calories Burned: 490 (50% fat)

I was so pumped after running this morning that I went back to the gym to try it again. I was only able to go for 20 minutes before my ankle (which has been tender for 6 months) decided it was time to stop. Okay, so twice in one day is a little much? Note taken :)

I did 20 mins treadmill and 10 mins elliptical. I have to be back up and at the gym for 5:30. I'm hoping the scale says something nicer in the morning.

I saw two of the BL trainers at my work today, I got to chat with them a bit about how I'm excited about running and how I had a great loss, I'm feeling motivated etc etc... that was nice.

I've already prepared all of tomorrows meals, packed my lunch for work, and written down the points so I'll be totally OP again. 11 days 100% OP... I haven't even touched a single Flex or AP, I've had water every day, I'm on a roll! I'm so impressed with myself :D

Okay, bedtime!

I Rannnnn!

Workout Length: 60 minutes
Calories Burned: Bleep-Bleeeep! Grumble... I got to the gym and realized I forgot to put on my monitor. GRR!

I ran! I ran! I'm sooooo happy!

I got to the gym, and I did 20 minutes on the elliptical. I overheard one of the women on my BL team talking about how she ran on the treadmill. I remembered that I have that "Couch to 5K" podcast on my iPod, so I hopped on over to the treadmill and put it on.

I did week one of the podcast, so it's 90 second intervals of running, followed by 90 second intervals of brisk walking. I couldn't run for the whole 90 seconds, but I was doing between 45 and 60 each interval. I felt SO GOOD!! The endorphins were pumping and I was totally in the zone. By the end I must have looked hilarious because I was running with a big smile on my face, lol.

It was really hard, but it wasn't unbearable, and when it was over I felt better than I've ever felt after a workout in my life! I went home and bragged to everyone who would listen. LOL. I'm so proud and excited :)

I've decided that I love it and am actually going to follow the Couch to 5K program, and my goal is to finish the 8 week program over 10-12 weeks (it may take take me a bit more time than the average person) and hopefully by my birthday (Sept 22) I will be able to run 5K straight in 30 minutes. I don't really care about the time frame, I'd just be happy to be able to accomplish that!

On a not-s0-awesome note, I stepped on the scale this morning and I'm not showing a loss yet this week. Last week I was already showing down 4lbs by Thursday, so for me to not show anything yet is kinda freaking me out. I do feel like this week was a little messed up, with the salty popcorn and not working out 2x per day like I did last week. OH well. I just hope that I show even 1-3 lbs by Saturday... that'd be nice :)

Evening Walk...

Workout Length: 50 mins
Calories Burned: 364 (60% fat)

I went for a walk around the harbour this evening. I had a bit of a melt-down after that near-binge this evening. It really effected me, I think because I haven't felt out of control around food in so long, so to feel like that (even if it was just over a bag of popcorn) really scared me and shook me up.

I talked on the phone to some people who are really close to me and it was nice to get my feelings off my chest. I am going to have a quick rinse in the shower and then hopefully fall asleep reasonably quickly.

Back up at 5:30 am for Cardio -

Woo Hoo! CAN'T WAIT!
/sarcasm

Ah, sleep, sweet sleep...

Workout Length: 45 Minutes
Calories Burned: 756 (45% fat)

I was up at 5 am yesterday, and I didn't take a nap in afternoon. I was having trouble keeping my eyes open by 10 pm last night. Today was my "late" day, I didn't have to be at the gym until 9 am! So I managed to get about 9.5 hours sleep. I feel great :)

My ankle feels a lot better today, too.

I think I exhausted myself yesterday. I burned nearly 2000 calories and earned 10 APs. Today I decided to go a little easier - instead of the 1hr long workout I just did 45 on the Elliptical. I may go for a light walk this evening, but won't feel guilty or disappointed if I don't.

Oh, just a note about music: I used to listen to really upbeat pop-type stuff when at the gym, because even though I didn't really like it it kept me moving. Well I decided to try music I *d0* like, that I listen to at home - like Pearl Jam - (I LOVE Pearl Jam) - and it really made my workout fly by! I had to skip by a few of the slower songs but I think I'll be passing on the pop music from now on.

Week Two Begins

Strength - Bootcamp
Workout Length: 75 minutes
Calories Burned: 871 cal (55% fat)

Cardio - Walk
Workout Length: 90 minutes
Calories Burned: 1021 (60% fat)

This morning's bootcamp seems so long ago... I usually post right after I get home, but I had some things to do this morning, and then went for a walk around the lake.

We did a similar work out to last week, but he upped the difficulty a bit -- shorter breaks, less often. We did the usual legs, abs, and arms work out. Using a body bar, we did lots of squats and whatever-they're-called presses where you lift the bar above your head. My arms are still quite weak but getting better!

My allergies are still driving me crazy, and my ankle is really sore. The roof of my mouth is itchy, my eyes are dry, and when I was walking around the lake my ankle felt really tender. I think I'll take it easy tonight... cook some dinner and watch a movie :)

I usually do separate posts for my bootcamp workouts and my cardio workouts, but I'm feeling lazy today (hah lazy? Tired maybe - I earned 10 APs before 1 pm! lol) so I just threw'em both in here.

Blugh. I have all the food in my house to make Thai Red Curry and Bulgur Chickpea Curry. The Bulgur one would probably be okay, but I can't really see my trainer approving of the Thai Red (I only have regular-fat coconut milk, not light). I want to use up the groceries I have. I think as long as I stay within my points, I should be okay. (That worked last week, I did my own thing and lost 7 lbs!)

Day 4

Workout Length: 68 minutes
Calories Burned: 1081 (45% fat)

I can't tell if my neurosis/slight OCD is a help or a hindrance! haha

I get on the treadmill and I think "I'll go for 30 minutes."
I lose track of time and it's been 35.

Well, I may as well go for 45, so I hop on the Elliptical.
At 45 minutes I've burned 930 calories.

Well, I may as well make it 1000!
I reach 1000 calories and I'm at 52 minutes "In Zone" (heartrate watch)
Hmm, may as well make it 60.

At 68 minutes and 1081 calories I decide this could go on forever... lol. It's not a nice round number but it's better that I step away from the gym equipment before I drive myself bonkers. haha!

I'm going back to bed for an hour... That worked for me yesterday :)

Late Night Walk

Workout Length: 30 minutes
Calories Burned: 218 (60% fat)

It's so hot in my apartment I actually had to go for a walk to cool off. I was feeling a bit restless, too. Unfortunately now it's 11 pm and I have to wake up at 5:15 am. Blugh.

I am of to have a cool shower and then hopefully I'll fall asleep quickly.
I've already worked out 330 minutes in 3 days - awesome.

I'll post again in the a.m.

:)

Evening Workout

Workout Length: 35 minutes
Calories Burned: 405

I'm having trouble eating all my points again today. It's very weird, I've never had a problem before (in fact, I usually ate a couple flex points each day, too). I figured that all the extra exercise would actually make me more hungry more often... but that's not the case. I may have to cut the protein drinks to evenings only so I have an appetite in the day!

I did another work out this evening. I didn't want to over do it since I already did 1 hour this morning and have to be back for an hour and a half tomorrow morning. I did 10 minutes on the bike, 10 minutes on the stairmaster, and 15 minutes on the treadmill.

It was kinda nice because I ran into one of the Biggest Loser trainers, and she was like "Oh, weren't you already here this morning?" I said Yep... She was really impressed, I get the impression I'm the only one so far who has been working out twice per day because she was really surprised. haha

I bought a blender to start making smoothies... yum yum! I have some vega powder so I'm going to make a yummy fruit smoothie for breakfast tomorrow. Yay :)

I Lurve the Elliptical

Workout Length: 65 minutes
Calories Burned: 1089

I forgot how much I love the elliptical! When I was going to the gym religiously a few years ago, I loved the elliptical trainer. It was my favourite machine. I got on one today for the first time in months and the romance was rekindled...

Last night I woke up in the middle of the night and had to pee but I was so achy and so sore that I could barely roll out of bed. While I was in there I took two extra strength Tylenol. I never take painkillers - maybe once or twice per year - so that says a lot about how sore I was. I woke up feeling a bit better, the sleep really helped.

I did 60 minutes on the elliptical, 5 minute cool down, and I wanted to keep going but decided instead that I'll get some more exercise this evening. An hour at a time is plenty! Later this evening I'll walk outdoors.

I haven't been following The Biggest Loser meal plan very closely. Instead I'm continuing to do Weight Watchers. BL follows the same structure I do: Breakfast, Snack, Lunch, Snack, Dinner, Snack. They have meat at ever dinner so I've been doing my own vegan WW friendly dinners instead... still ensuring I get the carbs and protein that they want me to. They have some good ideas for snacks, which I have actually been following because it's a nice break from the regular baby-carrots-and-apples rut I've been in.

Oh and... I weighed myself this morning and I was down 4 lbs... AWESOME... 4 lbs in 3 days? wow. I will check myself every 3-4 days just to make sure I'm on track... this IS a competition after all!