[copperblu]

Big Sal + Marvin made good points about the steps we take to get ourselves to exercise even if we're not in the mood -- that old chestnut about just getting dressed in your workout clothes or just starting for 5 minutes really does hold true. I change into my workout clothes the second I get home, and pull the coffee table out of the way before I have a chance to talk myself out of it. Luckily, a lot of the Firm tapes have an intro of a few minutes, so I can sit lumpishly on the couch while it plays (rather than fast-forwarding), so that by the time the workout starts, I've managed to sell myself on the idea of moving.

Big Sal: I think it's great you have a walking partner, especially one who pushes you! I really want to go walking for my lunchbreaks, but the pedestrian traffic around here is so heavy -- it's not really conducive to maintaining a decent walking pace (or mood!).

zookeeper: Great to hear from you! What wonderful news that you've been working out daily! And dogwalking is not for the faint of heart! I think your idea of monthly progress picks is great!

mustang sally: Sorry to hear you've been sick!! It seems everyone has had a bad bout this year! I can't wait till Spring! And then we can take long walks outside in the gorgeous weather!

islandmama: Bad girl, pushing yourself hard when you're sick! I hope you feel better soon -- the missed workouts are so frustrating! Thanks for the reminders -- I should go back and review my goals! You're so brave to put up the progress pics!
I actually should take pics, because I often forget what I looked like at certain stages -- but I'm afraid to ask DH to do it, because although he is mostly supportive, sometimes he accuses me of being "obsessed" (which I can assure I am not). I think he's just worried about me, and he knows my mom can be weird about her weight -- but I wish he understood that it's natural to want to share my accomplishments with him, or talk about this new "hobby" I've taken up lately of getting into shape. Anyone have any suggestions?

And finally: welcome tornadoterr! Great to have you! I think it's wonderful that you're making the commitment to add exercise to your routine -- to my mind, it is even more important than diet, and the combination of the two definitely produces long-lasting results that diet alone can't manage. Welcome to the board, and you have all our support and encouragement in making this lifestyle change along with us.

My news: I did the Tortoise tape last night -- and it was so hard it made the Hare look like a stroll in the park! I got through it though, and feel all the better for it. I haven't lost any weight or inches in the past week or so (I don't mind, because I know I'm gaining muscle + the process by which fat gets pushed out + replaced w/muscle is slow and complex), but I recently noticed a strange indentation line in the middle of my torso, starting at the middle of my ribs and continuing to just below...I think it's the beginnings of developed Ab muscles!! I'm very excited. My torso is looking a lot more toned lately, and there's less fat on my ribs + in my waist. My butt is firmer, if not that much smaller (first hired, last fired! ), I feel SO much better (and finally sleep through the night!), and I'm very encouraged. This working out thing really does work! I'm just feeling very positive today!

Now hopefully I don't go blow it all on the weekly "Friday Lunch" with the women in my Dept.!

[MarvintheMartian]

Look at all this activity!

Welcome tornadoterr It's great to see another lurker be de-lurked! This is a great way to keep yourself accountable for your exercise! And fun too! As you can see, we talk about lots fo other things too, but it's focused on exercising daily!

MiniMony Great that you're making your exercise a priority today (and everyday ) Sometimes that's all it takes, is making that commitment to yourself, over and over...... especially with your relationship too. We sometimes forget to nurture our relationships when we're focused so much on "dieting" Good for you!

Copperblu Hey ~ don't ever feel bad about a little slip like that Krispy Kreme (I have to admit here that I've never had one ~ darn Canada anyway!) You mad e the mistake, you realize that it wasn't worth it, and moved on. That's great! And if it had been worth it ~ that would be great too, right? We can't always deny ourselves the food we love... what kind of live would that be?

BigSal I would soooooo love to be able to walk on my lunch break! I only get a half hour so I find it hard enough to get my lunch in comfortably, let alone a walk! Maybe someday.....

zookeeper FIVE dogs! I have two, and find they are too much fo me sometimes! Five would be insane ~ even only parttime! Kudos! That must be a great walk!

MustangSally We've missed you! Good to see you again!

IslandMama Tsk, tsk, tsk! Bad girl! Try to take it a little easier for a while ~ at least cut back on intensity ~ otherwise you'll never get better! And so brave with the before and after pics! I am definitely not that brave! I just want lots of after pics!

Me Had a higher fat day yesterday than I meant too, but overall not too bad ~ I did get my water in

I had my annual physical yesterday ~ and my weight according to them has dropped only 1/2 kg since last year at this time ~ so I know that I increased and then lost again..... Overall good health though, so I'm happy.

I planned out my meals today (we're having pizza and beer after work for St. Pat's day) and I'm even coming in at good totals! I'm going to Curves before I go to this get-together so I won't feel guilty ~ I'll just feel good!

Have a great day everyone. I'll try to check in later before I'm off for the weekend!

Marvin (I love this little guy!)

[tornadoterr]

Hi all!!! thanks for the great welcome!!!! Im going through my old & new exercise tapes trying to come up with some type of schedule. I will be up and ready to go monday. I may try something over the weekend, but have a lot going on so Im not going to worry about it until Monday, then I will try to work everything around my workout schedule. Talk to ya then and have a great weekend.

[zookeeper16]

Good morning everyone! I'm up and ready to start my advanced workout this morning. Just waiting for my mini-breakfast (an apple) to settle a bit.

I should clarify my dogsitting statement. I am a professional pet sitter, so my clients all vary a great deal. My favorites though are the ones today....they actually have 8 dogs, 10 cats and 2 birds! Five or six usually walk (unleashed) with me on a walk thorugh a 20 acre field that my clients have cut trails through. Its very peaceful and fun, except now with the spring thaws all the dogs want to take off and smell different things!

So today, I'll do my Tae Bo Advanced, and then around 2:00 go over and walk the dogs. Then at 5 I will go and feed them and just let them out quickly because our local highschool basketball team is playing the state championships at 6:30. Then after the game, I will go back and walk them after dark (which should prove to be a great challenge!). So I will have plenty of exercise tomorrow.

Sunday's we play volleyball for 3-4 hours at our church/school gym. Some say that sports don't qualify as exercise, but after playing 10 games in a row, I say it does! LOL!

Thanks for making me feel welcome on this list!

[Big Sal]

Hi all, having an 'easy' day today. According to my plan I should be swimming 40 lengths today - but took the kids with me & had great fun with them instead. We played on the flumes for ages. The wee one doesn't make the height limit so I have to climb all those stairs to the top as well. A new experience for me was, I went down the pitch black scary chute. Halfway down there is a sheer drop, fair knocked the breathe out of me - but as I was racing my older son - he was on the non scary chute - I just kept on with it, not much else I could do was there ??

Then I dragged the boys for a walk up to a local castle, never realised just how steep the hills are before. And now we are dancing round the livingroom having a mad half hour. I have just 'escaped' to get my breathe back. Their dad is trying to sleep, don't know how with all the noise we're making but he is.

Will be back on program tomorrow with my aerobics tape

Marvin - I only have 30 minutes lunch too, but am lucky that I can eat my sandwiches back at my desk.

See you tomorrow

[Big Sal]

Hi - DH is working an extra 12 hour shift today - so last night in my wisdom I thought if I set my alarm & got up at 6:30 with him I could work out before the kids got up & spend the entire evening with DH when he comes home.

Ha - 6:30am on a Sunday morning should not exist. I got up - visited the ladies room, got another glass of water & snuggled back in bed until 9am when the kids woke.

So much for good intentions - need to fit it round everything else now - will probably end up doing it at about 10pm tonight after doing everything else. Not sure if the mind was willing but the body wasn't or is it the other way round???

[Mini Mony]

Well I made my St Patricks Day goal...just barely. So 3lbs down and for Easter I'm going to push hard - hope to lose 5lbs!

I can really tell that I've been slacking off lately. The adrenaline rush of making a New Year's resolution has left me and this is about the time every year that I get complacent and go back to me evil ways. I'm shrinking and I don't feel so uncomfortable in my own skin...so I'm getting lazy and eating things I shouldn't far to often.

But on the good side...I am shrinking. I took my measurements yesterday and I've lost 2 inches off my bust, 3 inches off waist and 4 inches of hips since last fall! I thought I could put off buying any new clothes until it was time for a spring wardrobe but in water aerobics class last friday I spent way too much energy making sure I stayed in my suddenly loose bathing suit. I'm really enjoying that class so I'll think I'll invest in a few of those Speedo type athletic suits.

[copperblu]

Alrighty, GOT to start a new thread! See you there!