Hey Jenifer. We don't have a Big 5 Sporting Goods store here but I got my elliptical from the Sports Authority for about $300. I see them everywhere, like Sam's Club or even Sears has them. I would totally recommend you trying it out first because they come in different stride lengths and you would need to find one that fits you. I'm only 5'3" and the regular full sized ones are way to big for me. I got one with a 17" stride length which seems to be perfect for me. They even make 'em w/a 14" stride which seemed a little short if you do it at a fast pace. I do enjoy using it though, I just need to get a little more coordinated. Of course the cost varies by brands (Nordic Track, Proform, Eclispe, etc) and what features the machine has...have fun shopping!

My husband gave me the "day off" (he's a plumbing contractor and I run the office) since it's Good Friday and our son doesn't have school, but he put it this way: "Why don't you take the day off? That way you can do some laundry." Gee, I'd rather be in the office . Anyway, I got my walk in early this morning and have the wash going as I sit here typing away.

Cristi how's your day going? Anything special planned for this Easter weekend? Well, I've got to get up and get more done--putting on my domestic goddess outfit... have a great day ladies and I'll check back later.

Hi! Wow I had another great day OP and can't wait to WI tomorrow at WW!
Noelle~ Thanks for the information about the elliptical! Sounds like a lot of fun, not bad on the prices also. I forgot you don't have the same stores we do here. LOL
Cristi~ How are you doing this good Friday? Your doing great on the walking! My hubby works a lot from the house so I manage to drag him out!

Well I will talk to you all later!

Total Miles TOday: 2

Total April Miles: 16

Looks like you ladies are doing GREAT!

Yesterday was a very busy day! But I did manage a 1.68 walk, how I don't know, but I did! By the end of the day I was so tired and my feet hurt. I ended up going ot bed at 11:30 pm. this of course was after a couple of hours of dozing trying to watch tv. Now this morning I am trying to catch up on my e-mails and such. I always try to get in my computer time in the morning and a few minutes in the late evening. So, I will check in this evening to post my walk I do today.

Jenifer, glad to hear you are doing good with WW's. I too like it. It is fun trying to figure out the points for the day and what you are going to eat but once you get used to it it's not bad. it was definitely a challenge for me the first few weeks. My daughter said if she had to measure or count everything before she ate she would just give up. She thought it was just too much work. But she thinks everything is too much work. she was watching me count out fat free pretzels and fat free pringles. I usually bag them up in indivdual servings once I get them home from the grocery store.

Noelle, the elliptical definitely sounds like something I want to get, and I am hoping to once we move. And thanks for the info about them. I didn't think about them coming in different sizes. We are wanting to find a house with a basement to have a gym down there. We have the treadmill, stationary bike inside, and a home gym in the garage which is one reason I haven't used it much, especially when it is cold.

Wasn't that thoughtful of you hubby? Giving you the day off so you can do laundry!

Talk to you ladies later.

4/18/03~1.68 miles
Total miles 4/03~19.05
Miles to go~25.95 (I better get movin' only 1 1/2 weeks to go)

Hi ladies I have awesome news to report! Down 6 Pounds my first week on WW! I was like whoaaa baby! I'm a very happy camper this weekend! I will totally get my walking in tonight. I went and got a pedicure last night and I'm now going to get a manicure. Gotta keep busy! Did a littel cleaning aroung the house today and opened some windows to get fresh air flowing. Well I will post tonight after I walk! Hope you guys are having a great weekend!

I'm doing the happy dance!

CONGRATULATION'S JENIFER!!

Wow that is wonderful Jenifer! Way to go! Keep up the good work! Getting a manicure is a nice reward for losing 6 pounds! You deserve to do a happy dance, I'm doing a happy dance for you too!

Okay, thought I would check in for the last time as I am going to see my son get baptized tonight at 7 p.m. then we will probably go out to dinner, just a quick bite since it will be late and this isn't starting till 8 p.m.

I did get in my walk and a 20 mn. bike ride and need to get in the shower soon, so I will talk with you ladies tomorrow. Have a GREAT rest of the weekend!

HAPPY EASTER!

4/19/03~2.18
Total Miles 4/03~21.23
Miles to go~23.77

Thanks Cristi! Sounds like you are having a very busy weekend! Hope you had a fun night with your son.
My dh had bought a motorcycle a couple weeks ago and actually got to go and ride it today b/c the weather was so nice. He and some friends went for about 4 hours. I got to surf the net and clean the house a bit. We just got back from walking my regular route and it was still very warm outside. I love that Summertime is just around the corner! Well I hope you all have a great Easter! Take care!

Total Miles Today: 2

Total April Miles: 18

I am kinda of on
from my WI!

Hi ladies! Even though it is Easter I managed to get my 2 Miles in today! I ended up making the Amgel Food Cup Cakes and they are yummy! My dh has eaten lots of them since this morning. I am getting ready to make Pork Chops, baked potatoes and corn on the cob for dinner. We have no family up here so I have no struggle on this holiday! I do miss my family on holidays, but not the food!
Well hope you all had a great weekend! Can't wait to hear from you guys this week!

Total Miles Today: 2

Total April Miles: 20

Hello there,
I would like to join your group. I, too am a walker, and I love my treadmill as the weather where I live dictates that walking out of doors is not the best idea most of the year (unless you like walking in gale-force winds or snow or cold temps.

So does anyone have a source they used to make their walking goals? Or is this "make your best judgement based on youself"? I will try for at least 5 miles a day, and I would like to walk at least 25 miles a week.

In Feb. I bought a new treadmill and I do love it, but I need to commit to a daily schedule. If I spend a little time at the start and the end of each day, I should be able to get through this without a lot of missed workouts. This is my attempt to start over at making a workout scheduled into my day each day all week, lifetime kinda stuff.

I've got about 60 lbs to lose, and time's wastin. I'm not getting any younger. OK. Hope everyone in here had a great Easter. I did. And no chocolate bunnies.

OK, to recap. My mini-goal is 7 weeks away. I would like to walk 175 miles (only 25 miles per week) and I have no idea where that will get me with weight loss, but we'll see.

Later.

lilmoose

Hi Lilmoose and welcome to the April Walkers! We are a small little group that try and post as much as we can. I am glad that you could join us. We all have different goals that we have set. My goal this month was to walk more than I did last month. I am off to bed! Have a wonderful week!

Okay, quick post. I love the accountability idea, it makes me feel like I am in this effort not alone. Boy, I was an English major, and that sounded backwards... There is definitely something to the idea of the "support group"!!

Okay. I had so much fun today on my treadmill. 6.02 miles
yay

If I am going to do this every morning it will take me almost 2 hours. But I have a tip that I thought I would pass on. I hear a lot of people comment that they don't like the treadmill because it is boring. Sometimes I have been known to feel that way myself. But today I think I had a breakthrough. I grabbed some of my fave CDs and walking to the songs that have a certain beat and tempo seem to keep me going-- I could have kept going, but I stopped b/c I have other things to do in my life (like go to work!) and I think I am going to brun a CD or two from my current collection that have that certain combo of tempo, beat, and fun.

My current recommendations:

Rebecca St. James has some good ones (Pray)
Shania Twain has lots (Feel Like A Woman is sooooo fun to walk to!)
Carman (The Standard)

OK, well, happy Monday everybody.



lilmoose

WELCOME Lilmoose! Like Jenifer said we all make our own goals and try to stick with them. I too am a treadmill walker even though I prefer walking outside. I think I can walk A LOT further outside than on the treadmill. But don't care to walk alone and the wind here is horrible some days also. My treadmill is in our entry way in the living room right now, (we use the back door) and so it is out of the way and unless you look around, it can't be seen. But it points right at the tv so what I do is either turn it on MTV, BET, CMT or a good movie or talk show (LOVE Dr. Phil) and I watch tv while I do my walk. I'm a little slow and I try to do 2 miles a day, but it doesn't always work. I also try to ride my stationary bike or something else along with the walk. maybe that's why I don't push doing more than 2 miles. I'm trying though. Good luck with your goal of 25 miles a week! And GOOD JOB on your 6 miles today! WTG!

I was too busy for a walk yesterday, bummer! By the end of the day I just wanted to sit, and struggled to stay awake to do laundry.

Jenifer, my sons baptisim was nice! They had like a candle light vigil before the actual service and baptism, it was really nice, looooooong, but nice. WTG Jenifer on your 2 miles walked also.

Noelle is now MIA! Where are you Noelle? Hi, and I hope you had a great Easter.

If I don't get off this thing and get my butt in gear I won't make my goal this month! I'm getting worried I won't make it anyway! Okay, I know it's not impossible because there are 10 days left in the month and I need to walk about 22 miles. I will check back later this evening ladies. You ALL have a GREAT day today!

Hey girls... We had a busy weekend with our entire immediate family getting together to take family portraits on Saturday (there were 21 of us total) then we went out to dinner. After dinner we did the egg dying thing and made some preparations for Easter dinner. When I woke up on Sunday I went for a walk w/my sisters but I was achy and dragging w/a sore throat. When I got home I took a shower and got back into bed, slept for 6 hours! My poor son opened his easter basket and my sister made him an easter egg hunt in the backyard. I'm still dragging today but I'm well medicated and coping.

Welcome lilmoose glad you could join us. We just make our own goals and help each other attain them. I'm an outdoor walker and have been braving the rain these past few weeks. My treadmill is sitting outside in my garage getting rusty (the poor thing). Anyway, glad you could join us and hope we can keep you motivated. I've done that CD compilation thing too and it does help, you have a bunch of your favorite songs and you just get lost in the music and forget about the drudgery .

Jenifer, WTG and BIG congrats on your loss! Awesome! I love getting manicures and pedicures too--and not just as a reward for lbs lost, i just get 'em just because.

Cristi, your son's baptismal sounded really nice. I've been pining for another little one myself...my "little" one is now 4 years old. I'm not getting any younger myself and I think it's high time that hubby and I get serious about it .

Anyway, I am at work right now but I had to catch up with my
stats since I've been slacking on my posting and journaling. Oh yeah, I'm down 2 lbs this week from last Saturday, putting me at 171 .

_____________________
Challenge Goal = 65 miles
Miles walked Friday 4/18/03 = 3.5
Miles walked Saturday 4/19/03 = 1
Miled walked Sunday 4/20/03 = 3.5
Total Miles Walked since 4/1 = 59.75
Miles to go = 5.25

Well I just got back from my walk. I'm really enjoying the dh going with me being that he has been working from home. I am still on track with WW! Drinking a lot of water these days!

Glad to hear you back and in action Noelle! Congrads on your loss also! Sounds like your Saturday was filled with lots of family and fun! Hope that you feel better!
Cristi the treadmill is in the front entry that is too funny! Guess people feel obligated to use it when they come over! Just kidding! Keep up the good work on walking! I really need to focus each day till the end of the month on walking!
Lilmoose you rock on your walking WOw! Thats a lot of walking! Does it tend to give you more energy? How fast do you go? Keep up the good work!
Talk to you all later! Walk your butt off these last few days of April! Whoohoo!

Total Miles Today: 2

Total April Miles: 22

March Miles to Beat: 28

Welcome back Noelle! Sounds like you had a very busy Saturday with family. I would love to get my family together for a photo, of course I don't know if they could get us all in a photo, there's just waaaay too many of us. I bet it was interesting getting 21 people in a photo? I am the 3rd girl of 3 girls and 3 boys. Not too mention 16 nieces and nephews, and 11 great nieces and nephews and let me tell you when we ALL get together it is like a circus, just as fun as one too. Sorry to hear you are not feeling too good. Hope you get to feeling better soon. And CONGRAT'S on your 2 pounds gone forever! I just noticed you have almost made it to your goal for April, that is greeeeeaaaat! WTG, you are doing mauvelous!

Yes Jenifer it is in the entry! It was the only place that was out of the way and I didn't want to put it in the bedroom as I have the bike there already. At least being in the living room it is not being used to hang clothes on. Also, it is one that folds up, but again where do you put the darn things?

Anyway...I did get a 2.06 mile walk today and my 4 bottles of water drank. I honestly don't think I could drink anymore than 4-16.9 oz bottles of water. I have drank 5 a few times and that was pushing it. It fills me up and then I feel so full and bloated, and I really hate feeling that way. Talk to you guys tomorrow.

4/20/03~0
4/21/03~2.06 miles
Total Miles 4/03~23.29
Miles to go~21.71 (Gettin' there)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENIFER!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Jenifer.
Happy Birthday to you!
And many more...



Okay, this wasn't planned I did not plan on being on 3fatchicks past midnight but since I am I thought what a better time to post Happy Birthday wishes for you to see first thing in the morning. Hope you have a very special day Jenifer!