Week 11, Day 2

8 days left. . .not that I'm counting or anything! What I've learned from this experience is that exercise is not my problem. I can do it, I basically enjoy the act of exercising (if not all the specific exercises themselves), and it makes me feel good. It has not helped me sleep better, but I do have more energy.

The food side of the equation is still a challenge for me! I make lots of bad food choices. I was good for several weeks, but it is hard for me to keep up the good food choices over time. I crave sweet (frostings, pastries, etc) more than anything.

Week 11, Day1

Showed up late today on purpose so I wouldn't have to weigh-in. How grown-up of me was THAT!? Not very. The workout was good today, though, and it was good to have one of our group members back. Another group member had to drop out last week, so we are down to three! I'm going to try to maintain my weight or go down slightly these last two weeks. Then, I'm on to a new adventure. Dog walking, plus either local bootcamps or a more local personal trainer 3 days a week. Haven't decided which yet. . .Morning works better than evenings, but I'm sure tired of getting up @ 5. Even 5:30 would be better, right?

10 weeks down

Finished my 10 week of M-F workouts today. Only 10 more to do! I seem to be getting more tired, but also more feisty with Corey. I was definitely in a challenging mode this week. I did ok with my workouts, but really badly on the food side. That is my struggle, my constant companion of a struggle. I wish I could work out for about 6 hours a day this weekend because I do NOT want to see the scale on Monday. It's bad enough having to justify my 1 pound losses, I don't want to have to address and increas! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Totally off-subject

So today I chaperoned my son's first grade field trip. For all of you out there who think teaching is an easy job, let me tell you it is not. His class is crazy. A grandparent and I had 9 kids, and the teacher had the other 8. She SPLIT UP the class, so that the groups were roughly even personality wise. These kids, who are all nice individually, are just crazy. So much talking and disrespectful behaviour. I was constantly having to talk to the kids, stare at them, put my hand on their heads, TURN THEIR HEADS, gently guide them back into their seats, remind them about the rules. Constantly. For 1.5 hours. I was totally exhausted at the end. The three worst out-of-control kids (in my group -- remember, his teacher also had at least three out-of-control kids) really ruined the experience for the other kids because we had to spend so much time waiting for them to behave. I can't imagin having to have dealt with that every day for the past year. Seriously, it was that bad, and so much work that it wasn't even fun. I feel really sorry for the well-behaved kids, who have probably suffered all year long.

Week 10, Day 1

Starting the last quarter of my program -- 1st day of week 10. Had a good workout today, and a nice walk with the dog. Feel sick, though. My head feels like it is going to explode. I shouldn't have used up my "skip" days last week, since I really feel like missing tomorrow! Guess that will show me.

Down 1 pound this week, for a total of 12. It's definitely not peeling off, but I have lost weight every week, so that is good. I'm happy with that!

Week 9, Days 5 & 6

I can't believe I only have three more weeks. Crazy. This experience was definitely a good birthday present to myself. There is nothing better than making an investment in my mental and physical health.

I showed up on Friday--a nice sunny, warm morning after the four days of cold wet weather. I had a workout partner which was nice. The other two ladies I knew were going to be gone. I told Corey I had no excuse for missing Thursday except that I just wanted to stay in bed and sleep. I made that choice.

On Friday, we did weights. Booooooo. Then I walked the dog for over an hour at night so the rabbit could be out of her cage and play. On Saturday, I walked the dog for over an hour in the morning and for about an hour at night. I still didn't burn as many calories as I do during the week because I am up fewer hours. The dog (and skittish rabbit) are good for me, though.

Week 9, days 3 & 4

I am so bad!!! I skipped again today. I have been so exhausted, and with the rain, and dark dreary morning, I just turned off the alarm and went back for another very needed hour of sleep. I did take the dog for a walk this morning (short) and I will do something tonight. I have reached my personal level of exhaustion and something had to go. I will be there tomorrow, though, and will work extra hard getting in extra exercise this weekend.

Yesterday's workout was good. We did some different exercises that were quite strange, but good. We also did some cardio, and I am always very happy the days we do cardio.

The weight keeps inching down slowly, so all is good. Slow is ok, right? It took me 7 years to get here, after all :-)

Week 9, Days 1 & 2

Did better than I thought last week. Down 1.5 for a total of 11.5 pounds. Seems like an ok total until I heard that the woman who was the biggest loser for the other group that just finished their 12 weeks lost 50 pounds! She lost 8 pounds the last week. Of course, she was also spending 6-8 hours a day at the gym that week, but still, that averages over 4 pounds a week, while I have averaged 1.4. If I continue to average 1.4, I would end up at about 17 pounds, which is not even 10%, compared to her over 20% lost. Oh well, she put in more effort, she SHOULD get better results.

Today, I skipped for the first time. I am so exhausted, I felt that sleep was a better choice, and life is all about choices, right? Plus, I didn't feel like driving in the rain across town, etc. . .So, somehow I have to make up to exercise sessions worth of activity in a very rainy week. I wonder if Macey will like the basement :-)

Week 8-- the weekend and Macey's arrival!

This was the end of my 8th week. I don't feel like I did too well this week. I ate badly and didn't get all of my exercise in. Oh well. I'm kind of feeling like I've done all I can do on the biggest loser program. I will continue to get daily exercise (I like that part of the program), and I will continue to eat better than I had been. Outside of that, unless I am willing to make even more drastic lifetstyle changes, I'm at the end of the road. . .

EXCEPT, for our new journey, with Macey, our new dog. That's right, we adopted a black lab/husky mix this weekend. Matthew has been yearning for a dog for two years. Jim said he could get a dog when he turned 8, but I didn't want to get a dog in October, so we agreed on the end of first grade. Well, 1st grade ends in 23 days, so we started looking, and found a dog that seemed like a good fit for our family.

She is so great. Really well-behaved, knows some commands, isn't jumpy or slobbery, and just a nice dog. Snickers, our rabbit, is terrified of her, but Macey has been good about ignoring her. We just have to get Snickers to understand that she is here for good and that we won't let Macey eat her.

My job, in 4 weeks, is to walk her in the morning. That is what I will be doing instead of the Biggest Loser program. I can't wait!! I LOVE to walk long and fast, but I've always been scared to go out in the morning by myself. I can't wait to be able to go with Macey. Then, I'll have to get some strength training in someplace.

Week 8, Days 2 & 3

Yesterday I did TWO bootcamps sessions. Yes, two. One in the morning with Corey and one in the pm in McFarland. Fortunately, they were quite different and worked different muscle groups. But I was drop-dead bone tired by 8:00 pm.

I am beginning to enjoy the exercise now, and kind of look forward to it. Only 4 more weeks of my program, and I am feeling restless about the end. Can I keep it going without the group? And more importantly, without my trainer? Our two days without Corey showed me that I definitely do not do strength training when not pushed to do so.

I really want to continue, but the money -- Ugh. And the drive -- double ugh! I should be able to do something like this closer to home, but I'm not sure. I really like Hybrid Fitness' philosophy, gym, and staff. They are just different from any other fitness center I have ever been too.

My goal for the next four weeks is to focus on my eating. I truly believe that food is 80% of the battle, and I'm still not winning that one completely. I'm trying though! Although apparently not hard enough. After writing this in the morning, I enjoyed ice cream as part of employee recognition day. Bad Jenni!

Week 8, Day 1 -- Deserted again!

My team deserted me again today. Started out with another low weigh-in (seems to be my pattern -- small, small, big--although this time it could be partly attributed to my food choices) and one other teammate. However, she deserted me halfway through one of the exercises! It was a very abrupt departure, so I am hoping she is ok, physically, mentally and spiritually. So, I got Corey to myself for the rest of the session. I actually do burn more calories when I am one-on-one with him, but I don't know if that is because there is less downtime since I don't have to wait for anyone or because he works me harder. My form is still bad, so I appreciate the extra attention to my form.

I think I am going to try a Zumba class in McFarland tonight. I have to figure out a way to keep going after my 12 weeks are up in early June. I'd like to continue, but it is pretty pricey. If I can do it on my own, I'd like to try!

Week 7 -- the weekend

I have had a really bad food eating weekend so far (to follow my bad food eating Wednesday(. . .and it's only Saturday afternoon! We'll see if I can get back on track. Had a seafood and prime rib buffet with about 5 desserts on Friday night, and a breakfast buffet Saturday morning, and a Jimmy John sub and chips at lunch. I feel like I should roll down the stairs. So full. . .

I did eat fruits and veggies, just all the other stuff too. The breakfast buffet was most noticeably absent of lean protein (except egg white -- YUCK! But it had lots of carbs and fat! I had two slices of bacon, 1 biscuit with gravy, two triangles of french toast, some breakfast potatoes, a 1/2 bowl of cereal, some fruit and some orange juice. No mid-morning snack, but that was about a day's worth of food right there!

On Friday night, had a piece of prime rib, some mashed potatoes, some cajun noodles, cajun seafood chowder (that was AMAZING), scallops in noodles, salad, and fruit. Plus parts of various dessert options and a glass of wine.

I did work out on Friday, even though Corey wasn't there again. Treadmill, elliptical and medicine ball lunges, toe touches, and crunchies.

It was a nice diversion from the last 7 weeks of rigidity, but I need to get back on track.