Shrinking

Last week was just a horrible week for me. I still worked out but I didn't go to my fitness classes except Zumba. I ate so much junk and I could tell it was just weighing me down. Plus my monthly cycle started and that adds hormones and emotions ick! But this week is a new week. I did my workout yesterday : 3-2-1, yoga and then a dance fit class (ballet mixed with pilates) I really feel sore today. Mostly in my shoulders and arms. I did a lot of arm work. But that's not what this post is all about.
I wanted to state that I actually feel strong, and skinny. I feel fit. I can see definition in my abs when I tighten them up. My thighs are shrinking and toning up! My husband told me the other night "wow, babe your thighs have almost no cellulite" lol well thank you my dear husband, i'm glad all the squats and lunges and jump roping has not gone to waste! But you know what really makes me feel good? Putting on clothes that was too small and finding out that they are now just perfect. I have several pairs of jeans that I bought over the summer because I lost some weight and needed new Jeans, and now they are just way too big on me. I still weigh 133 lbs, but i'm okay with that. I am slowly going down in my weight and it isn't fluctuating as much. I know it all takes time. The thing is, i'm not dieting. I'm not just working out until I get to a certain pant size. I want this to be something I always do. I want it to be a life style. I want to be a runner, a athlete. I want to be strong and fit.  Balanced. I am on my way and that is exciting!

Well I couldn't resist.

Over the weekend I totally threw my diet out the window. Saturday I ate Kashi cereal, then a lean pocket at lunch, went to my brothers house and he made me a chicken breast with sauteed veggies and mac & cheese, then went to the mall and had a few pieces of a soft pretzel (major no no) and then a skinny mocha from starbucks (110 calories). THENNNNNN on sunday, I had morning coffee, for lunch 3 pieces of jets pizza and 5 buffalo wings.... that is all the calories I should have in a day. But did I stop there? Nope. I went on to eat a bag of popcorn (at night) covered in Louisiana hot sauce, diet coke and some Hershey kisses....
But hey, Bob Harper says you should have one day a week where you throw your diet out the window. So I stretched out my day into two.
Knowing this, on Monday I went back to my diet. I worked out for 60 minutes doing circuit training. I ate better and drank more water. Here is where my other temptation came in, I said I didn't want to weigh myself except for once a month. But this morning I got up and I really really wanted to see if my weekend binge killed my weight. So I made sure that the scale was in the right spot for an accurate reading, I step on and to my surprise I saw 132.9!!! Now this isn't the first time 132 showed up. It's the second. and I put the scale in a second place just to see if it was consistent and it was. I have to say I was really excited, but I also know that it probably won't stick around for long. It does mean that I just need to keep up with my eating and exercising. I am going to put the scale away, and bring it back out in one month. Hopefully the number will be below 132, but if not i'm okay with that too, because I know that I am eating healthy (for the most part) and I am working out. My clothes are fitting me nicely and that is what I am going by!

The Scale

I have decided that I am only going to weigh myself once a month. At the end of every month I will stand on the scale and see if I have gained weight or lost weight. I find that the numbers all get stuck in my head and it totally messes with my mind. I like to know how many calories I am eating, I like to know how many calories I am burning, and I would like to know if I am losing weight on the scale.  This is hard for me. Every morning I stand  on the scale, then I have to re-position the scale because our floor is not leveled, and will give an inaccurate number. I tend to fluctuate between 3 lbs. 133lbs -135lbs. I know I am losing weight because of how my clothes are fitting, so why is the number on the scale such a big deal? Well, I'm not sure. I don't know if it is because I have always been under 130lbs?? I don't know if it is because I am working so hard, and to not see those numbers just drop make me fee like I'm doing something incorrectly or not working out hard enough. Whatever the reason may be I do know that I don't want to focus on it. I know that muscle mass weighs more than fat. I have never been this toned in my life, even though I was skinnier then. I know that I AM working HARD. I'm still learning, I'm still getting stronger. So I need to change my mindset. I don't want to workout until I reach a certain goal. I want it to be my lifestyle. I want to do it because I want my kids to learn how to be healthy. :sigh: It's difficult, but as long as I am fitting into my smaller clothes, than I know I am doing just what I am suppose to be doing...

My Cardio Watch

Since I started working out I wanted to get a heart rate monitor, that way I can keep track of how many calories I am actually burning. This is the nifty watch that I got: It is a Sportline Cardio 680 heart rate monitor.

click here to read more about this watch

The thing I love the most about this watch is the simplicity of this watch. It's easy to set up, easy to read and comfortable to use. You have to wear a chest strap with this watch to pick up your heart rate, but it really is comfortable and you barely know that it is there. The price for this watch is good too. $39.99 I got mine from Dicks. Most watches are either extremely expensive but at the same time difficult to set up and to read.

I used this watch for the first time today doing my Jillians 6 pack abs in 6 weeks. It said that I burned 302 calories in 21 minutes! How awesome is that??? But I have to add, that this watch measures cardio workout not strength or resistance. So I probably burned more than what it said. Read here about circuit training. So now, I have to talk about this workout with Jillian. 302+ calories in 21 minutes? How awesome is that? I would have to run 30 minutes to burn 300 calories. For example I ran 3.1 miles yesterday in 35 minutes and I burned 391 calories. That's a lot of calories but in compared to 21 minutes? And I'm only on level 1! I'm excited about this workout in addition to the other programs I am doing. I want to see how many calories I burn during my 3-2-1 class and my butts and guts class. Then to see how much I am really burning in my Zumba class. People say you can burn a ton doing Zumba because there are all sorts of different motions, using the whole body. I'll keep you posted, In the mean time I am gonna run tonight and see if my watch is consistent with the meter on the treadmill. Remember the watch will be more accurate because it reads my actual heart rate. Ta Ta for now :)

Don't quit!

I do not know what has been up lately, but my motivation for working out is just *thrbpt* down the toilet. I mean I want to, but often I question myself "hhhmmm should I go get my butt kicked tonight"?  I have always ended up going and I am always thankful I did afterwards. I really think being a full time mom of 3 makes it difficult. You have to plan to set time aside for yourself to do something that isn't exactly fun. I mean, if you could go get a massage or pedicure, then no problem right? But even though it hurts to work out, even though you are dripping with sweat and have a permanent  wedgie, even though you have aches and pains what I am doing, what YOU are doing is better than any massage or pedicure. It's a great stress reliever (believe it or not) you actually produce endorphin's and you are making your body stronger and healthier. So if you have days like I do, and you just don't want to do your workout, DO IT ANYWAY!!!!  Don't let excuses get in your way because once you give into it, it is easy to give into it a second or third time. Keep at it. Don't stop now, you've come too far too quit, to turn back.

lack of motivation

I'm really struggling for motivation right now. Today I have my 3-2-1 workout and to be honest I just.don't.want.to.do.it. ! I'm tired, I'm sore and a little shaky from my workout yesterday. I know that I'm gonna DIE tonight. :sigh: I have my workout clothes on, and I'm just watching the clock slowly go by. I'm trying to drink some water so I don't get dizzy, I probably should eat a granola bar to help me with energy during the workout but I had a late lunch and i'm so full. ugh.
I'll probably do it anyways. Hopefully I will switch into beast mode once I get going...

Jillian 6 pack abs in 6 weeks

I recently bought this dvd workout from Costco. It came with a one year subscription to Fitness magazine so I bought it. Tonight was my first night doing this workout and I have to say it is pretty intense, but not impossible. You start off with level 1, 5 days a week for 3 weeks, after that you progress to level 2, 5 days a week for 3 weeks and in the end you're suppose to have a 6 pack.  I don't know if I truly believe this, but I'm gonna stick with it and see if it is accurate. Now, I do other workouts, so i'll have to see how this comes into play. There are a few exercises that are a little more difficult but I'm sure as my core develops it will get easier.  All you need is a 3-8lb weight, and a floor mat. So I'll check back in 3 weeks to let you know how it  is going :)