Progress

I made a discovery this week.
I was so frustrated with working my butt off in the gym and seeing slow results I decided it was time to reread my Biggest Loser book and Whatdya know! Just by changing my eating plan to include more fresh fruits and veggies and remove the "lean cuisine" that I had been having for lunch, AND making my dinners lighter Tada! I went from 212 to 205 this week! AMAZING! I feel so awesome and my jeans are definitely looser.

It had to be all that sodium in the lean cuisines- eh?! Well, it's really encouraging me to stay on track. Speaking of track- I'll be going to the Lake Pflugerville 3 mile trail today to get my 'Big Run' in for the week. I'm hoping to get a yoga class in tomorrow to stretch and recover.

Musically- I am finding the songs that have the right beats per minute and the right combination of inspiration to give me a mental kick:

Phil Collins: I can't stop loving you
Phillips Craig Dean: Revelation Song
Bonnie Tyler: Hero
The Proclaimers: 500 miles
Def Leppard: Pour some Sugar on Me
Mercy Me: Beautiful
Toby Mac: Get back up
Avalon: Everything to Me

What's on your workout playlist?

Yum!

Who knew food that is good for you could taste so much like dessert!

I tried this recipe for salad that is in my Biggest Loser Cookbook this week- It IS RIDICULOUS! It tastes like strawberry cheesecake salad!

1 Cup Fresh Spinach- stems off
1 Cup Romaine Lettuce
2 Tbsp. Crumbled Goat cheese
1/4-1/2 Cup Fresh, sliced strawberries
1/4 Cup sliced chicken breast
1 1/2 Tbsp.Kraft Light Raspberry Vinaigrette

Holy Cow! I loved it so much I had it 2x this week.
The easy peasy tip is to get a rotisserie chicken and just peel a breast piece and shred it or cut it up.

I've never had goat cheese before and I had a hard time finding it at the store. I finally found it in the Deli display in a crumbled option and a tiny little cylindrical portion. Goat cheese has 6grams of fat versus the 9 grams that cheddar offers.

1st Milestone...

Wowiee!
10 lbs. down!
73 to go!!!!!!!!!

Birth Day

It is my birthday! I have to say that it has been one of the best I've had in a while.

This morning I slept in until the beautiful sun streamed in my window and woke me up. A while later my oldest son went and got me a Starbuck's Mocha and brought it to me.

While I was driving to the Salon for my pedicure Caleb and I shared some music and spent some quality time together. During my pedicure I relaxed, enjoyed the massaging chair, and relaxed some more.

We had our family photos done by a professional photographer! I can't wait to see how they come out!

For dinner, the boys made me waffles with strawberries and whipped cream.

Jake and Nate massaged my feet.

I am lounging and checking all the facebook birthday wishes and getting ready to do a scrapbook page.



Aaahhhhhhhh, it's such blisss.

Another Milestone!

I rode my bike to work this morning.

That seems so simple to say.

I haven't done that since February of 2008! It is 8 miles. It was NOT simple. I had to dig deep to keep going, feeling the burn in my legs and breathing through every uphill grade. Of course, the fast downhills were awesome and the variables in the course made it possible to keep going. The strategy of doing the ride TO work made it impossible to give up and go home or call for a ride. That is the beauty AND the scary part that kept my legs pumping no matter how slowly or how many times I shifted into a lower gear.

When the hospital was in view I didn't have the same rush I remember feeling the very first time I did that ride. Maybe it was because the June air was sticky and humid, but I was glad I had made it. I am determined to make it a regular part of my week.

It is just one more mile along the road to getting healthy. It feels really good to be going down the road. I can envision myself in a month from now jogging a half mile, walking a quarter, jogging 3 quarters, walking a quarter, and finishing with a half mile jog. I can envision myself riding the 8 miles in 35 minutes and breezing through it.

It's a healthy, strong, energetic, "athletic" me that keeps getting stronger and healthier.

20#

Woooo Hoooo! I hit the 20# mark this morning!!!
Never thought that the scale saying 192 would feel so good!

Now, on to the next 20!!!
I am in Medium Scrubs (probably size 14ish)

Yay!

It Fits!

I just put on my "Grey's Anatomy" Scrubs I bought a year ago but haven't been able to wear. I put them on about a month ago just to see where I was at and wasn't even close. I managed to wear them to work last week, but was grateful that I wear a gown over them most of the day-still a tad too tight.

They are actually just right today! Looser around the middle and butt! It's so exciting and rewarding to see the work paying off.

I have taken my "Biggest Loser" Fitness book with me to the gym the last 2 times to follow the exercises and make sure to do them right. It makes me a little uneasy...but why do I care what total strangers think? I dunno, but I did it anyway.

It sure does help the motivation factor when your muscles ache and your feet burn to be able to get yourself back to the gym when you're seeing progress both in the inches department and on the scale!

I still have a long road to go, but at least one mile of it has been overcome!

Mother's Day Dinner

Grrrrr... I finally hit 193 on Sunday and was good all day:
1 cup shredded wheat, 1 cup nonfat milk for breakfast
Orange for snack
Turkey wrap (whole wheat) for lunch
and even worked out! Jake went with me to 24 hour fitness and we did our Biggest Loser workout :)

The guys took me out to Texas Roadhouse for dinner and I had sparingly ate 2 cheese fries --that is "2 fries" not 2 servings of fries, 2 yummy melt in your mouth rolls and 1/2 of a steak kabob, a few pieces of steamed broccoli. So....Monday morning BAM! I'm 196! Hate that!

So, I ate right yesterday and I'm down to 195 again...and I'm spending an additional week making up for the 2 rolls and 2 cheese fries on Sunday :( It's so maddening!

Anyone else experience this? I know that I am still going to continue losing, it's just so frustrating to go backwards with such effort!

Resting Heart Rate

According to Wikipedia an average adult female's resting heart rate is about 75. Mine is 118 right now. I have been 'resting' on the couch after waking up about an hour ago and it's kinda weird to have your heart beating so fast. This has been happening sporadically since I started school. Last week I had a really great week filled with sunshine, hope, and time with my hubby--I think it happened twice. Previously, it was happening almost every day. This week I am only working 2 shifts. I was hoping that that in itself would prevent this from happening.

I have talked to several people who have shared that they have experienced a similar symptom at certain times in their lives and made lifestyle changes to control this.

I am looking forward to not working nights. I think that asking my body to switch back and forth and go without sleep or normal sleep patterns is messing with me.

I will keep you posted on how this resolves. The biggest thing you can do for me right now is pray for me.