take the weight loss anyway I can get it

I have decided to have my hair cut back its normal shoulder length bob - the same hair I have basically had since I was 22.  (Except for that weird short hair period around 2000 - didn't last long.)

My hair is so heavy and thick, it is bound to take at least 2 pounds off of the scale!  I am so excited for an easy weight loss!!!!!

Pervy Friends

I sure got a lot of comments about naked eating.
I'm just saying....

My poor roommates!

I was reading Paula's Fitness magazine today and one of the articles suggests that you should eat naked.

"Eating smart is all about having an awareness of your body.  The most obvious way to do that is by seeing it.  So when you're trying to lose weight, spend more time wearing less.  I don't think I coudl eat a plate of nachos naked - could you?"

Well, my poor roommates (the pookeys) might not be able to ever eat again!  I could still eat the nachos.

Running in Chicago

Paula has talked me into running in the crazy Chicago cold.   Once again - fake pics because you know that I don't smile while I am running.  I did about 2 miles or 3.2kms at a very slow, Victoria pace.

Paula celebrates another successful run - she is now training for a 10k!

I gained 3 pounds

This seems ridiculously excessive, but I have been eating Christmas cookies out of control and just got back from a big weekend in Texas - lots of shots.

This is my first weight gain since August.

My goals for this week are:
1 - track my food
2 - plan my meals

I don't think I can do the 37 minute 5k

As you know, I currently shuffle run at a pace which is very slow.  I have been doing the c25k at a 5mile/hr pace which would have me doing a 37 minute 5k which is completely respectable and I would be happy with that.

But, I am struggling so much!  Running that pace is for an extended period is just painful for me.  So, I have two options:

1 - Stay on week 2 until I get comfortable at that pace  (But, will I ever get comfortable at that pace?  I don't know.)

2 - Lower my running pace to maybe a 4.7 which would give me a 40 minute 5k.  (But, can I even do that pace?  I don't know.)

A 40 minute 5k basically has me that last person in any 5k which is sucky, so I am crabby about this.  But, I am crabby about the 5mph pace.

What should I do????

Treading Thursday!

I did it!
Did you?

Biggest Loser Finale

Just finished watching the Biggest Loser Finale.  It was both inspiring (hundreds of pounds lost) and painful (knowing that half of them would have the weight back on in a year).

Watching all of those big numbers was excruciating!  I just kept thinking of how much you would need to do to accomplish this.  The girl who won the at home was losing about 7 pounds per week.  Let's do the math -

To lose 7 pounds, you need to burn 24,500 calories a week!  (3500 *7)
If I burn 350 calories in a 5k run, I would need to run 70km a week!

Obviously, I don't need to lose 7 pounds a week, but geesh.... you see the big numbers and just want that so bad!

Christmas Cookie Hell

I can't stop eating xmas cookies!
It is a disease!
CAN.  NOT.  STOP.

Treading Thursday

I am going to try and follow Treading Thursday every week.  This is the cardio class you do at Biggest Loser on Thursdays.   You can do it swimming, running, elliptical, bike - whatever.  Yesterday I ran outside and it was ok.

5 minute warm up
5 minute as fast as you can go
5 minute recovery
4 minutes as fast as you can go
4 minute recovery
3 minute as fast as you can go
3 minute recovery
2 minute as fast as you can go
2 minute recovery
1 minute as fast as you can go
1 minute recovery

It sounds easy, right?

Las Vegas Rock and Roll Marathon

Considering I can't run a 5k in under 45 minutes, you can imagine how inspired and impressed I was last night watching the Las Vegas marathon.  There were about 44,000 runners on the strip last night.  Wouldn't that be great?  Running down the strip with all of the lights, the Bellagio fountains going off and all of the gambling, inebriated onlookers cheering for you.

Maybe the half marathon in 2013?

The Challenge

In Friday's class, Nicole (trainer) gave everyone a goal to be in a 5k sometime in the next 3 months.  She said you can walk or run, just finish it.  I am not even 1/2 way done with my c25k training.  Dare I try?  My time might be 90 minutes, but who cares right?

Current goal is just to be good in Vegas.  That is enough to worry about.  :)

Lost some more - yea!

I lost another 2.1 pounds which is pretty good for 5 days of work.  I am more excited that I lost another 1% in body fat with another couple of inches gone.  (good riddance!)

And maybe the biggest win of all - I had absolutely no problems with my hip, knee or ankles!  And, I was running a lot usually at a 5mph pace which is very speedy for me.

Leaving BL

Today is my last day.  I am leaving after lunch.  It is really difficult to not treat a one week stay like a holiday.  But, my goal was to be good for a week and really concentrate on my portion control which I did.  Due to the weather, I wasn't able to do the same amount of exercise as when I was here in the summer, but I do expect to lose between 2-2.5 pounds if I did my math correctly.

I am going to do my weigh-in - wish me luck.

Did I tell you about Gail?

My treadmill buddy from camp in September surprised me on Sunday and came to BL to workout with me!  How awesome is she?!?!?!!?!?

And, she has been totally inspiring.
Not only did she talk me into cardio this morning...
She talked me into a double mountain class yesterday.
She talked me into an extra mountain class on Monday.
I don't know what she will talk me into during our favorite class this arvo - TREADING!

I definetly do better with encouragement from my friends.
I am very grateful to have her here.

why does bad weather mean we have to work out harder?

Due to the wind storm, they added an extra 2 hour cardio class this morning.  I decided to skip it because due to the storm, I had no sleep and am exhausted.

Knock, knock, knock.

It's Gail.  "Come on - lets do the cardio class.  It will be fun."  I don't know how she talks me into this nonsense, but I did it.  And, I beat my best time on the elliptical.  I was on for 65 minutes doing intervals.  Just to put this in perspective, here is my blog from September 1 -

I got here and jumped on the elliptical machine and I swear, I could only do 20 SECONDS!  I physically could not go any further.  During class the other day, I did 2 minutes.  Today, I did over 7 minutes.  My goal is now 45 minutes.

BLACKOUT

We had a winter wind storm come through the mountains last night and BLACKOUT.  We were without electricity for about 6 hours.

The wind is very cold!!!!
The upside is no swimming pool today.