HA! Beat Ilene! (or were you waiting after the fuss I made last week?)

Good weekend here, but a bit busy. Only managed one cardio session, but food was clean. I bought some new "fun" clothes since all I owned were gym clothes and winter clothes. I have no idea what I wore last summer

Today is chest and cardio. My training schedule is packed this week- people are realizing that summer is SOON despite the cool weather.

Have a good one, LWL,

Mel

Morning Mel and everyone else.
I am also doing chest ( whole upper body really) and cardio.
Just now getting the kids ready to take to school then off to the gym.
Another day of crappy rainy weather here. I wish summer was here now.

No Mel I slept in this morning alergies or a cold kept me blowing my nose half the night!! Doing legs today ... Going to see a foot specialist ... Getting my allergy shot, what fun !!

Yuck Ilene. Your day does not sound fun at all.

I slept in as well - was on the phone from 12:20AM till about 2AM so of course, I missed working out this AM. Luckily today is cardio only so I can do that as soon as I get home from work and still get to bed at a reasonable hour.

Tiki.

Ilene - sorry about the allergies and foot. OK, mostly allergies - Yuck!

I am back from my UBW - it is a lovely day. I twisted my trainer's arm, and we are off to a free 3K this afternoon - US Heathfitness or soemthing like that - it is on the Mall and it is such a lovely day, the azaleas are in bloom, I have the time today and may be working the next time an opportunity like this presents itself ... So, after his arm is sufficiently twisted and he is "in", he tells me there is also a free 3K at noon once a month around the Tidal Basin. Can I tell you all how much I love living in DC? Oh, think I did! I am so excited I found this whole running gig!

Have a great day

Ellen- That sounds like fun! Your trainer must have a very flexible arm One of my clients tried to twist mine into doing the "boro to boro" bike ride last weekend in NYC...45 miles through all five boroughs. Sounded like fun, but the weather forecast was horrendous. She ended up doing it and I will look at her pictures tomorrow. Another wanted me to do the Philadelphia Broad Street Run, also yesterday.... We are stuck in a week-end weather pattern of downpours and thunderstorms and I'm just not that hardcore! Rainy Sundays are made for shopping

Today's chest workout done. I benchpressed 5 pounds over my body weight for 2 reps! Where was this strength when the BP contest was looming???? I need to find a contest, preferrably a small, local, and drug-tested one, because I'd be toast against someone who was juicing.

Tiki- Hope you can stay awake today! How is the food going?
Ilene- Sorry about your allergies and foot. Your day does sound crummy

Hi Shonda, Ellen, and everyone else

Mel

Mel,

The food is going fine except on the weekends, I don't eat regularly and then end up at 8PM, trying to get in about 700+ calories. Last night I was so full, my stomach hurt and I still didn't get to 1200 calories.

Tiki.

It's been a while since I've been able to stop by . . .but some good news -- It looks like I won't need to have surgery on my knee! WooHoo! No crutches or painful rehab or anything. It turns out, after a second MRI, that my "complete" ACL tear was either only a partial one, which will heal with time and TLC, or that my torn ligament somehow "scarred" over enough to provide stability to my knee. Don't ask me how I get so lucky with some of this stuff, particularly given how stupidly I treat my body sometime ...

It's been tough to fit in the physical therapy, though, what with work and everything. But, I've learned some amazing exercises to stregthen the inner part of my quads (to pull my kneecap back into place) and my hamstrings. I've also learned a lot of good balance exercises. So, all in all, it has been a good experience. I have only about 3 more sessions and then I think I'll be discharged.

I've gotten totally off-track with the food. If I don't concentrate and plan, my old habits of eating junk just jump back in. And if I'm stressed . . . well, you know the story.

But, I've cleaned out my refridge and made a plan, so I'm sure this week will be better. It's good to see/hear how everyone else is doing. Keep up the heaving lifting!

Hi Mox, and welcome back - that is all GREAT news!! I know you will be back on track in a matter of days with your eating - remember, you can take back control (over that, anyway).

Tiki - your weekends don't seem to fall into a pattern that matches your week. I know, who's does? But wouldn't it make more sense to draw a line in the sand when you are full and say "I will do better tomorrow" rather than trying to cram in all the calories you missed before falling asleep? Just a thought.

Gee, Mel - let me think: 45 miles vs less than two - hmm, I don't think I twisted very hard! It was a lot of fun, but very disorganized. Geoff was out at a 7 min/mile pace and "won" in our field of 11 (yes, very disorganized and not very well advertised - that was what happened when the President's Council lost Arnold (shucks). I "closed" the race at 24:00 and "almost" finished in the top 10

Ellen, I was thinking the same thing cause after my shake, I wasn't hungry but only had taken in about 600 calories for the day but I had done a killer leg workout and 55 min of cardio to boot. I am so afraid of my body chewing up muscle for fuel and defeating the purpose of me lifting so I pushed myself.

Tiki.

Well, I was really good with my food during the day yesterday, but then totally off-plan for dinner. I have to get figure out what to do when I come home really hungry -- that's my danger time. Right when I get home from work. Does anyone else have this problem? What do you do about it?

(Some personal info -- I live alone, so I don't have to worry about cooking dinner for anyone else. I was also going out a lot after work, but I'm trying to cut back on that b/c of the cost and bad calories.)

Otherwise, the day was a good one. How was everyone else's?

Mox, during the week, as soon as I hit the door, I have my protein shake. When I am out of those, I have an apple. Like clockwork. Then I can cook for the crew, do whatever else I need to do and not make crazy food choices before I have a chance to eat my healthy dinner.

Tiki

Mox long time no see... I often will have half a cup of cottage cheese with strawberries and splenda, I will force myself to sit down , breath and relax, then eat it in my own sweet time... I also have the protein shake with strawberries ... If you live alone don't keep any food that is off limits, keep only the good stuff and you won't be tempted, you don't have the excuse, ''Well I need to buy_________ for DH or the kids ...'' Don't buy it at all!!!

Hello everyone, thought I would give you an update after all the helpful advise I recieved from everyone. My excersize routine has stayed the same with the exception that I am now doing a more intense work out. I have also added jump rope and pilates to my routine. I am loving the hand weights. I can see definition in my arms, shoulders and back.

When I started I took my measurements, and here they are after a month.
Beginning
Bust: 45
Waist: 38
Hips: 44

Current:
Bust: 42 1/2
Waist: 34
Hips: 42

Weight loss to date 13 pounds. I thought the numbers would be a little better but I am happy. I have set a goal of of seven pounds off by the end of May. I'm setting it low so I wont get discouraged if I dont make it. Anyway, thank you for all your help. I'm in this to stay now. I did not realize how much I would like this new way of life. One thing I have noticed is that I feel so much better when I eat clean. I ate something processed last week and it gave me a stomac ache. Guess after all the crap I've loaded into my body over the years its saying, it refuses to go back. Well, thats about it. Everyone have a great day. Sabrina

Sabrina those are great numbers all around! Congrats and keep up the hard work