Week 2 Update

Here is the update for week 2. It was quite a stuggle this week. I am on some heart medication that wasn't working and that messed up my workouts. I still got to the gym everyday and took it easy. I really didn't feel so good, and I ended up not eating much. I still ate healthy. It was quite a struggle and one evening we were at the grocery store and I almost started crying because there was so much food I wanted...not needed. I was craving junk. I was good and didn't give in to crying or to the food cravings. Amanda and Richard have been so awesome and so supportative day to day. They remind me every day that I can do this. Here is some great news: I lost 5 lbs. again!! So that is 10 in the last two weeks!!! Yeah I am happy for that. This next week I am going to the heart doctor to have some tests done and make sure I am doing the right workouts. I'll keep you guys informed. Later Brenda

My Results....

So this week was a challenge, but I did get through it. I did do all my workouts...missed one day of cardio, but it was kind of made up through the jazz ballet class I do on Thursday nights. In the end I have lost 5 lbs.!!! Yeah I am so happy that just in the first week that some weight has come off. I also lost a few inches here and there, in my waist I lost 1 inch, and iun my thighs I lost 1 1/2 inches! Yeah for me!! I also made another huge change...which you can see...my hair. I needed a drastic and immediate change. I love it. I was nervous, but I love it! Well I am off, wish me luck with my next week. Later Brenda

Little Update

I am just giving a quick little update to let you all know I made it through my first week of workouts, and I didn't miss any of them. I will let you know the results tomorrow, we are doing the measurments and weigh in. Wish me luck!! Later Brenda

My Day's Food and Exercise

So I wanted to list on here what I ate today and my exercise routine.

Food:
Breakfast: 1 cup Special K, 3/4 cup skim milk
Snack: 1 Organic apple
Lunch: 1 grilled chicken breast, 1 cup rice w/veggies
Snack: 1 Kashi Go-Lean Bar
Dinner: 1 cup whole wheat noodles, 2 tblsp olive oil & vinegar dressing
Water Total: 60 oz.

Exercise:
Warmup 5 mins. on treadmill
Stretch, rotator cuff warm up w/ 3 lb DB
Swing through: 1 set, 15 reps w/6 lb medicine ball
Lying knee raises: 1 set, 20 reps
Dumbell Fly: 1 set, 20 reps w/5 lb DB
Front to overhead shoulder raise: 1 set, 15 reps w/5 lb DB
Bent-over Row: 1 set, 20 reps w/5 lb DB
Overhead Tricep Extension: 1 set, 20 reps w/5 lb DB
Bicep Curl: 1 set, 20 reps w/5 lb DB
Squats: 1 set, 20 reps
30 mins cardio on tredmill: speed 3.0, incline 1.0

Note: DB stands for dumbell. If you have any other questions just let me know. I will be doing this workout M, W, F and then cardio only on Tues, Thurs. Next week I will bump the sets up to 2.
I feel great and know that this is going to be challenging, but I am determined to do this and not let myself fail. I know that I am capable of accomplishing anything that I put my mind to. I have the greatist support system and a strong desire. I just have to keep motivated and NOT get discouraged!
Later

Yeah I did good!!

This weekend I went on a little road trip, which usually means eating fast food, snacking and drinking soda. Well we started the trip grabbing some breakfast, which were breakfast burritos. They were okay. We also stopped at the store to get some cold medicine for my parents...they both have a cold. While we were there I got some Kashi Go-Lean bars for the trip and some water. I did really good with not snacking. We finally picked up the kids and headed to Laughlin. When we got there we got all our things in the room and then we went to eat at the buffet. So a buffet, as everyone know contains a lot of food choices, I chose to get salad, with romaine lettuce and some baby spinach leaves. I put tomatoes and a little ranch dressing and some crutons. I also had cottage cheese, a little bit of spanish rice and beans. I also had two or three pieces of the sweet and sour chicken. Not to bad. I also had water with my dinner. I had one chocolate covered strawberry and watermelon pieces for dessert. I was surprised that I was able to make healthier choices. When we went to breakfast the next morning I chose something called the"Healthy Start" on the menu, which was no cholesterol egg substitute (I had a few bites of them...I don't really like eggs anyway!), a bowl of fruit and grilled chicken and whole wheat toast. I also had a very small glass of orange juice, and then drank water. I only ate one chicken breast and 1 and a half of the toast pieces, and the fruit. I stopped eating when I was full. On the way home I didn't snack, drank just water and had a couple of crackers when I was feeling sick. We got home dropped off the kids and then went to dinner. My dad wanted fast food and we decided to go to Mimi's cafe. I picked grilled chicken with veggies. It came on a bed of mashed potatoes, and I asked for rice instead. I only ate one of the chicken breasts and some of the rice, and brought the rest home. I also drank water with it. At the end of the day I was really happy with the choices that I made in what I ate.
When I got home, Amanda and I did my measurements, pictures and weight. She had also made me a menu for this week with the stuff we have here at the house. She is awesome. She also helped me write out my workout for this week and next week. One of my goals is also to get up every morning at 8 and take some vitamins. I did do that this morning. I feel better and energized. I know that this will be a challenge, but nothing like a challenge to make you grow and become stronger. I got this in my horoscope this morning. "Important goals are hard to reach, and while you're tempted to give up, you need to keep trying. Expect to have to work for success, because it will not be simply handed to you. Your patient striving makes the rewards worthwhile. " I find it very fitting. Well I am off, I start my workout today and I will let you all know how it is went! Later!

This is challenging

This is really challenging. I haven't even started the exercise part, and I am still feeling discouraged. I am figuring all the things that I am changing and it really is a lot harder than I think it is. I always start out saying I can do this, and just a few days into it I start thinking that there is no way that I can really do this. I am trying to change my thinking and saying to myself that I can do this. Last night I did go to the gym and did 30 mins. of cardio on the treadmill. I did feel good after I did it. Amanda, is amazing and has given me homework. I am reading up on nutrition and eating right. I am also compiling a list of healthy foods that I will eat. I am sort of a really picky eater and like my food to have taste. I am doing really good on not drinking any soda, or juices. Right now I am just drinking a lot of water. I like water though, I can drink a lot of it. Well I just needed to get a few things off my chest and psych myself up to do this. I know that I can do this. Well I am off. Wish me luck. Later Brenda