Trying to Get the Feeling Again...

Do you remember that song from Barry Manilow? In the song, he sings about his girlfriend coming back and he doesn't feel the same as he used to. However, it seems kinda appropriate for what I've been trying to do with trying to get that feeling of exercising again and getting back into the rhythm and routine of it all...

I've been up (up), I've been down (down), and tryin' to get the feelin'
I've been up (up), I've been down (down), I've been tryin' to get
I've tried and I've tried and I've tried to get (up) the feelin' (down)
I've been trying to get the feelin' again
I wanna get that feelin'
I want to get that feelin'
I've got to get that feelin'
I've gotta get that feelin' again (up)
And again (down) and again (tryin' to get that feelin')
Tryin' to get (up) the feelin' (down)
I've been tryin' to get the feelin' again

After taking the last two days off due to tight muscles, it didn't seem like today was going to be any different. However, yesterday a Gator Patrol was posted and I had yet to post. I was going to post this a.m. when I woke up and explain about how I upped the ante and added some cardio to my routine BUT that my muscles were rebelling and I had to take a few days off. Then I started to count the days I was "resting" and figured out that today would've been Day 3. There was no way I was going on that BB and admitting to that... so I hauled my sorry a$ off the couch and did Essential Abs and even bumped it up to the Intermediate level. After that I was able to go on and post to the Gator Patrol.

After I posted however I looked at the clock and realized I still had time... enough time... before I really needed to get ready for work. Seriously, my legs were still hurting a bit so I was a tad intimidated about doing legs but I needed to do something. I pulled out my Walk Away the Pounds DVD and did the 1-Mile Morning Wake-up walk. It was always one of the easiest to do... nice, short, simple and sweet. So tell me why I had sweat pouring into my eyes by the end and my arms were burning using the ball weights. Well, regardless, I made it thru... my legs did fine and I think it even helped them loosen up a bit. I no longer walked like I just got off the horse. And, even better, it felt good! I was sweating again... I was energized... charged up and ready to go. So much so, that I even took my tennies with me to work and went down to the fitness room and rode the stationary bike for 15 min.

It felt good today! And I have the Gator Patrol posts to thank for it. I love hearing from others... those who are struggling and need encouragement (Hello? Been there, done that, am there). ... those who are having great success (gives me hope that someday I too will get there)... I love hearing what works for others (gives me ideas to try)... and most of all, I love seeing the support that everyone offers up to each other.

I am feeling good and just a tad proud of myself... I have renewed hope that I can do this again. So I am doing what I can... bending down low and reaching up high... trying to get that feeling again.

But It's a Dry Heat...

Surely you've heard that phrase before. My mom used to say it all the time when she would talk about moving to Arizona. People would always comment on the heat... to which my mom always replied, "But it's a DRY heat." Honestly, I don't see it... hot is HOT... dry or wet. Well, I can honestly say that I sound like my mom or at least am trying to. Nah, not about the heat but about the PAIN.

Yep, that's right... I said Pain. Remember my post from yesterday when I mentioned that my calves had woken up and we're firm and saying, "Hello, we're awake." Yeah, well about that... my legs are screaming today. Apparently doing step aerobics 3 days in a row after a summer of none was a bit too much. Then consider that I added BodyRev legs to the mix this morning, my legs are burning. It's not nearly as bad as when I first started exercising a year ago... then I couldn't even bend over far enough to tie my own shoes. No, I am not quite that bad (yet?). However, every move I made today... every step... was felt. And, lawd, going up and down stairs... all I can say is "Ouch!"

Today was a good day though despite the pain. Rather than sleep in I set the alarm and woke up at 6:30 (hey, whaddya know, that was sleeping in for me). I started with abs and moved onto step aerobics and after 20 minutes, BodyRev Legs was on the agenda. I had put it off for far too long.

I was thinking about what Alden said on the BB this week... specifically, the routine and enjoying it. Why is it so easy to do stairs? Simply said, it's the music. I am able to lose myself in the music for 5, 10, 15 minutes... the next thing I know is 30 minutes have passed. I began to think about what other things used to help me enjoy the routine. Of course, music, so I made sure to have my exercise playlist pumping out of the computer. I also burned some candles. I remember on those deep breathing techniques, inhaling the sweet scents of vanilla, cinnamon or citrus was so much better than the smell of my own sweat.

After I was done (which in total took less than an hour), I could feel my legs tightening up and started to think about why I am doing this and what I am getting out of it. Not long term as that is too easy... but what am I getting from it now... right this moment. First and foremost, is the energy increase. I am not a morning person and the couch calls to me. There are many days where I start the day as a slug. I move in slow motion and the brain processes are slow. But after exercising, I am jazzed up and ready to go and face the day. The couch no longer looks like a comfy place to finish sleeping. Now, I will take care of dishes or do some laundry before I head out the door (after a shower, of course). So you can also add the feeling of accomplishment to the immediate results. (There are other immediate results but I will save them for a later post.)

So yes, I may be hurting right now... "But it's a good hurt."

Exercise is Fun...

Exercise is my friend.

This is my new mantra... and it's worked for two days. Yesterday and today, this is the attitude that I have tried to wake up with. Normally, I would stay in my pj's for a bit, hit the computer and be around for whatever cries of help came from the kids as they got ready for school. Yesterday, I started to make some changes.

First thing I did when I woke up was get dressed... off came the pj's and on went the exercise clothes. I tried to figure out at which points I would have enough time to get some exercise in with the least amount of interruptions and then planned my exercises accordingly. BodyRev abs at only 15 min is easy to fit in first... this is when K2 has showered and is getting ready and K1 has just woken up (Beware of Grizzly signs should be posted in my house during this time.) By picking the right time, I can work out and still be done with enough time to help K2 with any last minute aid. Then right after K2 leaves the house, I wake K3 up, grab my mp3 player and hit the basement stairs. Yesterday I told myself just do 15 minutes but once I had the music going, I couldn't help but keep on going. I made it 30 minutes before K1 was asking for help because he had only 5 minutes left before he had to catch the bus.

I still need to work on adding more Revving to the mix. My intentions were to do some at night but that didn't work last night. My kids used to have an 8:00 bedtime (at least, be in bed at 8:00 and they could read for awhile). Now however, no one is in bed before 9:00 mostly because of homework and practicing their instruments. Two nights this week we spent at the library. K2 had a paper due and finds that she gets so much more done using the study rooms at the library. No TV interuptions... no sibling interruptions. And to be quite honest I am pooped by that time of night. Since my alarm goes off at 5:30, I have been trying to be in bed by 10:30 so I can read for a bit. Lights out by 11:30 and time for 6 hours of sleep.

So I need to figure out how to fit more time in... maybe I will try for after work. I am home by 3:30 and should easily be able to fit 15 or 30 minutes in then. Maybe I should... No. What I need to do is sit down and write out a schedule and then just stick to it. Right now I am still being too wishy-washy with what I want to do and when I am going to do it.

But as for Alden's words...

make sure you remember and appreciate how you feel after completing a REV workout whether it be ABS, Legs, Arms or Cardio

This has been so true. I have always LOVED abs... even when I am straining to keep my legs up in the air and pull my hips off the floor while counting one alligator, two alligator... I am loving the feeling of calm and relaxation that completely overtakes my body. I sometimes even find myself yawning... not from boredom but relaxation.

And yesterday when I was walking up to the house after work, my calves were tight... not cramping or in pain but just nice and tight... as if to say, "Hello? Remember us? We are finally waking up again." At that point, I just needed to "put a smile on my face."

So here's to two days of changing my attitude... to waking up my brain and body... to remembering the good stuff.

Alden's Words of Inspiration...

Earlier this week, Janet started a Gator Patrol thread on the BB. It actually got a lot of responses. I guess there were more than just a few of us who missed them. In the past, Alden usually tried to post at the top of the thread after everyone had posted only this time THE MAN posted to quite a few individually. What a guy!

He is always right on the money with the right amount of praise, encouragement, advice and butt-kicking. And his one-liners aren't bad either... maybe not up to par with his swim buddy T but close. :)

For me this week, his advice was perfect...

CARRIE - love your honestly and your motivation! You know the drill now - it's all about routine and ENJOYING the routine - so as you start to get back into the REV swing of things, make sure you remember and appreciate how you feel after completing a REV workout whether it be ABS, Legs, Arms or Cardio...by remembering the positive you'll create an anchor that will only help you turn your single workout into a daily FIRED UP routine that you'll never want to miss...remember anyone, anytime can form a new habit - it just takes a little time and a whole lot of persistence.

Also - the one of the best things you mentioned is that you and your hubby are enjoying exercise TOGETHER - HOOYAH!

CHARLIE MIKE - ALDEN

And he was exactly right, too. It used to be FUN! I got such a high from exercising. I remember doing the stairs for my cardio and I would tell myself that I would start cooling down... only another great song would come on and I would have to do just one more. And revving... doing two or three (abs, arms, legs) was like nothing... the time passed so fast. And when DVD Alden would say, "Put a smile on your face" I couldn't help grinning like a damned Cheshire cat.

I need to get back to that point again. Right now it is still like work... where I have to PUSH myself to do it. And we all know that work is never any fun... time to change my attitude and start fresh.

First Year Reflections...

It has now been one year since I made the move to try to improve my health and weight. And while I had some success, I found myself reflecting back on my summer and its failures. While my summer was busy, hectic and yes, lots of fun (I can't forget that) it was also a step back on my road to fitness. I did good up until the beginning of July. Then it all seemed to fall apart from that point. I basically stopped exercising (my new bike sat in the garage unused). While I didn't resort back to my old eating habits, I wasn't as good as I should've been. I started drinking regular soda at restaurants. I was visiting Starbucks everyday which in itself isn't horrible except that along with my iced tea I was also getting bakery to go with it. Do you know how many calories are in a lemon bar? 440!! With 22g of fat!! I can't even admit to how many of those I ate in the month of July. So the fact that I put 10 lbs on this summer should really be no surprise. Actually it's surprising that I didn't put more back on.

However, another factor that I never really thought about until I was reading the Gator Patrol posts yesterday was the loss of computer time that I dealt with. You might think that spending less time on the computer might be a good thing, right? Less time sitting on your backside. BUT by not being on the computer I lost the support and encouragement of so many people. I was no longer posting on Gator Patrols (did they still do them this summer?) By being on the BB, I no longer had access to Alden's Fire Up speeches. I was no longer posting on the Revving for Life SparkTeam (which I am team leader of, I might add!) All of these things help in so many ways but I never realized their true impact.

I have tried (half-hearted) for so many years to lose weight --- really, it was more like talking about losing weight. It wasn't until I bought my bodyrev that I actually thought maybe this time I would do it. Then so many people on the BB had one and were using it (or saying they were using it). I was so terrified at first to even try it. What if I post that I am using it, going all out and then like everything else I tried, gave up and quit. How embarrassing would that be? So it was easier to NOT use it. But I had friends (bookpimp) who knew I owned it and would send me emails asking how it was going... or would get Mr. Bodyrev himself to do a shout out on the BB ("Congrats to Carrie for winning a Bodyrev at the silent auction in Atlanta.") This was even more embarrassing. People knew I had one and hadn't even tried it. So I bit the bullet and pulled it out of the box. Yep, it sat in the box for 2 months after I brought it home -- 2 months!

After I started using my BR, I had some other insecurity issues to overcome... mainly my embarrassment of exercising in front of my family. But they were the most supportive especially my girls (I think J was still waiting for me to quit like I had everything else). But the girls would comment on the changes (I can get my arms all the way around you for a hug.) or would ask me flat out... "Aren't you going to Bodyrev today? (That was K3, aka the Drill Sargent). And then the kicker... "I am so proud of you mama." My family was and has continued to be supportive.

But it was that other family... that family that I met on the BB that consisted of other bodyrevvers and fitness seekers. Every week, someone either Alden or one of the ladies would post a Fire Up or How are you Doin'? And people would post... successes, failures, strengths and weaknesses. If you had an awful crappy week, there were people in the same boat who encouraged you. If you had an awesome week, there were others there to cheer you on. No matter what the situation, support was there.

By spring the gator patrols were becoming less.... I mean after all this was an author's message board... did it bother others to have to read these posts. I don't know. But by this time I had found Sparkpeople. I was slowly getting into it... logging my food, my exercise, posting on message boards, joining Sparkteams. It was then that I decided to start a Bodyrev team on there to maybe lessen some of the posts from the BB. A few people joined and came over. And for awhile we were doing the same thing there that we did at the BB.... weekly encouragements... support... cheerleading.

But then I went AWOL from the computer (trying to fight 3 kids for the computer wasn't much fun and I gave in). It didn't seem to matter at the time... I was busy doing other things. But when I stopped logging my food, I stopped watching so closely what I was eating. When I stopped visiting SP and the BB and I stopped reading those weekly support sessions, it was too easy to give up on exercise. I didn't have to think about it... there was no one to remind me about it.

For awhile I was calling this summer a waste - hello, 10 lbs?!? After losing a total of 35 lbs? That was more than two steps back. But after reading a post on the Revving for Life team, I realized just how much that lack of support... those weekly check-ins... those people saying "I need some help."... had an effect on me. I could probably do this alone if I absolutely had to. But it would be so hard and seriously, in all honesty, I don't know that I would succeed. But with the support and encouragement of others who are going thru the exact same thing that you are... are having the same good days, bad days (weeks?)... it is so much easier. Just the fact that you are not alone has the power to help carry you along.

So know this... to those who during this past year who have offered support, encouragement, cheers... I thank you deeply from the bottom of my heart. I hope you know how much it has all meant to me... I realize that now even more. And to those of you who need help, who want to join me on this road to better health and feeling fit, know that I will be here for you. Just give a shout and I will be there.

We can do this together.

And Because I've Did Good This Week....

Okay... I didn't have the chocolate ice cream but I figured I deserved some dessert... so here it is...

Trying to get back into the rhythm...

After a very dismal summer of falling off the fitness wagon, I am trying to find my way back. All summer long I had all sorts of excuses... mostly it was a lack of time. I told myself once school started again, I would be back to a schedule and it would be easy to start up again.

So starting today, I am trying to get back into a rhythm.. a groove. This morning I was up at 5:30 helping the first of the 3 kids get off to school. I told myself that I needed to keep the promise to myself. So I pulled out my Essential Abs DVD and did the Beginner segment... beginner?? how sad is that??? There were some that my legs were cramping so bad... on exercises that used to be so easy!! I'll pay for that. I had plans to do a 20 minute segment of Walk Away the Pounds but my son missed his bus this a.m. (mostly because he didn't know what time it was coming nor where his stop was) so I had to squeeze in a trip to the high school.

Idid manage to arrive at work 15 minutes early however so that means that I was able to take a 15 minute break and head down to the fitness room. Fifteen minutes on the stationary bike might not seem like much but it still felt good.

Then tonight after chasing around for last minute school supplies... oboe reeds, latin dictionary, binders and calculator (can you say $100?!?!?!)... J and I headed outside and walked. It was hot... It was wet and muggy... and the mosquitoes are out in full force! But we walked... 45 minutes. So I got some cardio in today and it feels good!

I promised myself that I wasn't going to put the weight back on... I promised myself... but this summer the scale did start to creep up a bit... nothing insurmountable... but still, I can't let that continue.

The body obeys the brain, right? Now I just need to make the brain understand that we can do this.

Not Tonight, Dears, I Have to Read...

I was going to do another post but decided against it. I posted enough last night besides I just did a big one on the BB... although it might not be there in the morning... I really want to delete part of it... I posted pics... for gawd's sake, WTH was I thinking???? But I am trying to be brave... I am trying to live out loud... and if owning up to how big I was and showing that I've come a little way helps me or anyone else out there then I will leave it... We will see how I feel in the morning.

Now... I am tired... I put in almost 90 minutes of exercise today and that includes BR legs, abs and CARDIO!!!! Plus, I did step aerobics and the stationary bike at work today. Now I am off to bed to read for a bit. Let's hope I can make it past 2 pages!

Night, all!


Hmmm... now that I look back on this... I guess I did a post after all. :)

Back to Revvvin' ...

Finally, I have found my BodyRev again! For the last two weeks, I have been using it regularly. Not quite as much as during the winter but I have more to supplement it with now that it is warmer. Last week on the Revving group I started on SP, I set a goal of 5 abs, 2 arms, 2 legs and 1 cardio. I didn't quite make it. I decided to keep the same goal for this week... AND almost made it. I did everything but the cardio (don't know what my problem is with that one... it's harder to work up the energy to do it.) But I feel great anyway! I got my 5 abs in along with the legs and arms.

I have this great, easy to use piece of equipment, why wasn't I taking advantage of it? It feels so good to be revvin' again. I love... absolutely LOVE... the abs workout. It is my complete relaxer. You don't burn a lot of calories during it (but hey! I will still count those 40 or so anyway) but it just settles me... calms me... centers me. I can't wait to do it again tomorrow... I just have to make sure that I do one other one with the abs too... maybe it will be cardio...

My Life Lately...

Things are going very well for me... not perfect but pretty good. So I thought I would update on some of it.

Fit and Healthy...
I am really focused on getting myself healthier. Yes, this means losing weight but it's so much more than that. In fact, the scale is moving rather slowly right now although from 5/1 to 5/31 I dropped 4 pounds... not bad. And I lost 4.5 inches that month... well, actually more because I didn't exercise very much at the beginning of the month and acutally increased in my waist but then lost it again. The biggest losses came in my bust and my thighs - woo hoo! Most of you know that I am really involved with Sparkpeople and I have been busy trying to read the articles and just learn from others what works and what doesn't. There are some fanatics on there however, but that is not me. I enjoy food way too much... I am not ready to become a vegitarian nor do all my shopping at Whole Foods. And there is no way I am giving up my Starbucks visits! But I am trying to make cut backs where I can. I use low fat or no fat wherever I can... my milk is skim, my cottage cheese is 1%. I switched to Splenda for sweetening my teas, grapefruits, etc. I use sugar-free wherever I can... my latest SF purchase was syrup for my nutri-grain waffles... K1 asked if sugar free syrup was even possible. But honestly... it's not that bad. So I am still traveling this road...fighting all the time to succeed at it. J comments on my body changes all the time.... how my tummy is becoming less (used to be right out there under the bust, not anymore. The kids comment on it ("Mom, I think you did your stair workout long enough." - this was at the 40 minute mark.) I can feel the difference in my clothes. So I know the changes are happening... I just need to learn to be patient and not give up if the scale stops moving. I am learning that there is more to focus on than just weight.

The New Job...
The job is going well. I am slowly picking up more knowledge on the health insurance business but there is so much to learn. Somedays I feel rather stupid. "Didn't she just tell me that?" However, Cheryl who sits next to me and is lucky enough to answer most of my questions, is really wonderful and patient. I don't know if I would be if the roles were reversed. I really need to learn to trust myself more. But all my life I have hated dealing with our health insurance and have always left it to J... now the jokes on me, as I have to learn it all anyway. But I will say this... damn... you smokers out there... I thought smoking was expensive just with the purchase of cigarettes... now when I work up quotes for smokers vs non-smokers... whoo-ee, I think I would quit just to save the money. Ouch! I never knew that the difference in insurance was that much.

Also with the new job comes the use of the fitness room in our lower level. Technically, I do not get a lunch but I have been going in 1/2 hour earlier in order to take a lunch with some of the ladies from the office. For the most part I do the stationary bike for 15-20 minutes and once in awhile I will jump on the elliptical. But it feels good to get some physical activity during the day. That was one of my worries with switching from a very physical job to a desk job but if I keep going down to the health room, I shouldn't have any problem.

The Kids...
School is almost done for the year... June 12th. I can't wait... thinking that it has to be better than what it's like right now. But then there's that problem of thinking the grass is always greener. Right now, however, I am getting up at 5:15 to get K2 up and going, then K1 gets up at 5:45. They leave at 6:40 and then K3 gets up. I have been trying to do exercises during that time but I swear... my oldest two need more help in the a.m. than the youngest one. K1 is the worst... he has things in the a.m. that he HAS to do (shower, brush teeth and acne control). He will not leave the house unless those 3 things are done. IF that means skipping breakfast or not making a lunch, so be it... he doesn't care. I can't stand seeing him go to school with no breakfast so I usually end up making him something (usually a smoothie or oatmeal). K2 isn't quite as bad but there are certain things for breakfast that she doesn't like making and will usually call on me to help. The littlest, K3, completely gets her clothes out, showers, makes her lunch and usually her own breakfast. I try to help her where I can, usually because I feel so damn guilty. But this is also the time when I get the most exercise in... because there are less interruptions.

Although, one day last week, I was driving K3 to school (I had to be at work earlier) and she said to me, "I am really glad you took this job." I was a little surprised because I didn't think that much had changed for her... she is still doing most of her prep work on her own. But she said that I was awake now in the morning, I never slept on the couch and I was happier in the a.m. too. It made me feel great that she was happy with all of this.

Anyway, I am hoping that with school done next week that the kids will sleep in and let me have my peaceful mornings. I still plan to wake up earlier (just not 5a.m. early) and try to get my exercise in. The kids don't know it yet but they will have a list of jobs to do during the week while I am at work. That's going to go over well... *snickers* But right now, I am exhausted by 10 p.m. and usually in bed not much later. We will see if that changes once school is done.

Reading...
Yes, I know I haven't done a Reading Update for April nor May. I did read in April... maybe I will post the titles. But honestly, in May I barely read. I had two books going, The Sunday List of Dreams (which was actually not bad still haven't finished it) but I kept losing it (one time for 2 weeks!) and The Grapes of Wrath. I picked Grapes because it was a recommendation from a Classics Book Club that I joined at SP. I have not read many (ANY?) classic books and thought this would give me an opportunity to try some. However, that one was just not working for me. I am not sure though if it was the book itself or if I was just so tired by the end of the day that I couldn't concentrate on the deep topic. I finally gave up on it last week. I missed reading! I had to find some books that I could just read for enjoyment. I have two going right now... a YA book called A Certain Slant of Light... a ghost story. And Dates from Hell, an anthology of paranormal romance stories. The last is definitely a mindless, easy, fun read. It moves fast and is perfect for my bedtime reading. The other one I am sticking to during the day when I am more awake (and quite honestly when thinking about ghosts won't freak the hell outta me!).

My Family...
I received a call on my answering machine form my sister telling me how much my phone call meant to my mom ("Who is this?" - Remember that one?). I told her I doubted it and told her about the phone call. She didn't know that's what my mom had said to me. So what my mom is saying to me and telling my sister... who knows... I will try to call my mom once a month. But that's about the best I can promise... I just find it hard dealing with her negativity.

But on a positve note... I have my sister back in my life. Well, not physically anyway seeing as how she now lives in NC. BUT we have talked on the phone 3X since Mother's Day ... and I think that might be 3X more than we talked all last year. She sounds good... she sounds stronger than I have heard her sound in maybe a decade. She isn't preachy to me but suggests or encourages. Not sure if she is still sure that she is right about everything when it comes to her health, we haven't broached that subject. BUT it feels so good to talk to her now... I am hoping that this is something that will continue.

So that's about it... my life lately. I wil try to do better about posting. It just seems like there is never enough hours in the day!

SparkPeople and BodyRev

There are a lot of factors which have helped me on this road to being fit and healthy. Support I would have to say is #1. The support I have received from my family and friends on the BB has been HUGE. It is so much easier to do something when you have people cheering you on whether they are in the same race or on the sidelines. The second thing I would have to credit is myself and being in the right frame of mind at the right time. Things just finally clicked for me this time whether it was my age, a new maturity level, or whatever... it just made sense for me to do it and to follow thru this time.

However, there are two products which have also helped. One that started it all for me and one that is newer. The first, of course, is the BodyRev. Even when it sat on my floor still in the box, it taunted me... challenged me. When I finally worked up the courage to pick it up, I was amazed. It wasn't difficult... challenging, yes... difficult, no. It was convenient. It was perfect to get me moving. Now I haven't always been faithful to my BodyRev and have suffered thru slumps but the BodyRev was always there waiting for me to get my act together. The only I may have suffered with the BodyRev was mild boredom from doing the same thing over and over again. However, I bought some of the other DVDs and tried to spice it up a bit. And now with summer, I have more options for getting my exercise in. But my BodyRev is always there... I even use it when I just need to do some quick strength sets. I love my BodyRev and will always have it sitting in the living room so it is always at hand when I need it.

The newer product in my life is SparkPeople. This website offers an array of articles and tools to help anyone trying to lose (or even gain) weight. No matter what your problem, you can find something to help you over it at SP. For me, the biggest help has been the logging of food and exercise. Now Alden has been trying to tell us for months the effect that logging has but for some reason I just didn't put the effort into it. Well now that I can do it regularly on the internet, it is so easy. Plus, being able to see my caloric (or at least a good approximation) intake and the calories (approximate) burned each day has helped a great deal. I find myself thinking more about food... not as in... "I'm starving, I need to eat" but more in the way of "Am I really hungry? Or am I bored?"... "How many calories are in that and is it worth it? What are some better choices?" Plus exercise has become easier when I can actually see the immediate result (calories burned) for that day. Sometimes I find myself thinking... "If I just add another 15 minutes to this bike ride... " SP is a fantastic tool and so easy to use.

So I found myself thinking about myself and all the people from the BB who have found the BR and the support helpful. So I decided to create a SparkTeam specifically for BodyRev users. It is my small way of continuing to get the message out about BodyRev and to continue and pass on the fantastic support that I have recieved thru the BB.

If you'd be interested, check it out... Revving Towards Being Fit and Healthy.

The Internet, Logging and Fitness...

Apparently the day my modem died, Alden decided to stop in and pay me a visit. Thank you for your comments, sir. I am definitely going to live this chapter of my life to its fullest

But the fact that he stopped by last week is actually very funny... because the week he stops by, I am having a bad week fitness-wise. It's strange really how tied my fitness activity is to the internet. I have only been on SparkPeople 6 weeks but already I can now see how logging my daily food intake and exercise has made a change in my life. Without being able to log it on the internet, I stopped logging altogether and ouch! did that hurt!! The food wasn't so bad... although my water consumption, which wasn't great to begin with really tanked. As for exercise, yeah... well, that wasn't so great as well. My strength exercises completely fell by the wayside... and I can definitely notice. I really feel "fluffy" in areas where I was beginning to feel some firmness... abs... butt... arms. As for cardio, I did some but not like I had been doing. And that I definitely felt in my energy level.

Now I am not trying to make excuses but last week was a bit rough for me personally as well only because I was finishing my two week notice out and starting a new job. I wasn't doing regular hours at the new place however it cut into my sleep time which really did not help me out in the evening hours plus it stole away the time that I would normally get some exercise (especially my bike rides).

So as of yesterday I am back to logging (yes, Alden, you were right... Logging definitely makes a difference!) I got my strength exercises in... my abs are thanking me. And I did some cardio on a stationary bike and an elliptical machine. Did I happen to mention that my new job is located in a building that has a fitness center in it? Very cool! A group of the ladies go down during lunch and get a 20-30 minute workout in. I think this will really be beneficial during the winter months for me as well.

So while I had a slow week, I did still manage to lose some pounds(yeah!) but the inches stayed the same and in fact, grew on my hips and waist (ouch!). I definitely need to keep logging and should - GOD FORBID! - ever have another internet crisis, make sure I come up with a back-up plan for logging. May even have to do it the old fashioned way... with a pen and paper.

A Good Day...

I started my new job today!!! I feel clumsy and awkward... nervous but that's just because there is much too learn. And it didn't help that I started a damn cold yesterday. So there I sat... sniffling and trying to discreetly blow and wipe... praying and hoping that there was nothing lingering around my nose. Then there's the "ewww" factor. I had to shake some poor woman's hand today, thinking the whole time... "Germ city."

But the training is slow going... lots to learn. I am glad that I am coming in despite still being at Target thru next week. I was afraid that with shortened sleep that I would be brain dead and would not retain any info but that didn't seem to happen. I still have some agent names running thru my head. I am ready to go back tomorrow and start it all over again.

On that note, I heard from the library. They did not offer me the job. Which is what I wanted... no what if's... no wondering if I made the right decision. However, this little part of me is wondering... what the hell didn't they like about me? LOL! I guess I am not easy to please. But al in all, I am happy to have the job that I do. There is so much that is right about it. It is a nice fit. It feels right.

I am back to exercising after taking off more time than I wanted... a busy weekend and a blah yesterday interfered. Today the girls and I went for a bike ride down to a nearby pond. K2 circled the pond looking for frogs while K3 looked for turtles. I kept doing a circuit on the bike down to the end of the block and back around the court... to keep my legs moving and my mileage adding up.

I also got some good news on the fitness front. After I started to get serious about this back at the beginning of April, I ended up putting on 2lbs! But I didn't panic... I knew I was eating better (I was logging it)... I knew I was exercising on a daily basis. I was drinking my water (mostly). I was doing what I was supposed to be doing. So on April 18, I took my measurements so I would have something to use for comparison. On SparkPeople, I joined a monthly challenge to get ready for summer. There are a list of things to strive to do each day... regarding fruits/veggies, water intake, cardio exercise... etc. However, with the challenge we all had to post our starting weight and measurements. Then we will retake and post them on the 15th and again on the 31st. Well, in taking my measurements today, I discovered that while I had only lost 1lb, I had lost inches!! 1.5 from my hips... and 3 inches from my waist!!! I couldn't believe it!!! There were some results that I could not only see in numbers...but also in the way my clothes fit! Yet, more encouragement and motivation to keep on doing this.

I really need to get to bed... I have to work tomorrow and then again, tomorrow night.

The Downside to Exercising...

LESS TIME FOR READING!!!

Wahhh... I have barely read in the last week! I finished my last book on April 17 and just started a new one today. Well, I tried starting it on Saturday but read about 2 pages and passed out asleep on top of the book. I was going to start The Sunday List of Dreams... one of the community boards that I joined on SparkPeople is a bookclub and that was their choice for April. As I already had the book sitting here at home, I thought now would be a good time to read it. HA! Fates are playing a trick on me. The damn book sat in one spot for months!!! Then I pull it out to read it and the freakin' thing disappears!!! I kid you not! Gone... vanished!

So I decided to go with a series that has been a favorite of mine recently... Sookie Stackhouse. I am reading Dead as a Doornail. The only problem is that after my dismal attempt to start it on Saturday night, I have had no time to read at all!!! So today I was determined to MAKE time. I went to the mall for a haircut and afterwards went to B&N for lunch and some much needed reading time. It felt so good just to sit there with a book in my hands and lose myself in someone else's world. Gawd, I have missed that.

Then after coming home... I was almost feeling down that I hadn't gotten a bike ride in today. It was 70 degrees when I left for the mall and by the time I came home it was in the 50's, gray and drizzly. What I wanted to make for dinner was missing one ingredient... I was going to drive to the grocery store and then after a quick check outside decided to bike there. The girls even came with me. On the way there it was fine... but on the way home it started to drizzle. But the funny thing was... it felt great! Even the girls had fun... we were riding our bikes in the rain. People probably thought we were nuts! But, you know what... I still managed to get in a 30 minute bike ride today! Woo Hoo!

So now I am off to bed... with my book... and lets hope this time, I make it past two pages.

Good things:
1. A fresh new haircut (that I actually like!)
2. Quiet reading time at B&N
3. Riding in the rain

Making life changes... one step at a time...

"It's not what you do once in a while, it's what you do day in and day out that makes the difference."~ Jenny Craig

Someone posted this quote on the message board recently... and isn't that the truth. I honestly believe that one of the reasons I have always failed at diet and exercise in the past has been the dream of instant gratification. If it didn't happen immediately, then I gave up.

Also, I have never committed 100% to becoming fit. It wasn't a lifestyle change... it was "I want to lose weight... I want to lose it NOW... oh, and by the way, I don't really want to exercise regularly and eat better."

I am not sure what it was this time that spoke to me...I have a feeling that it was a variety of things. BUT this time, it HAS become a lifestyle change... or should I say... it is becoming a lifestyle change. Because I am not there yet. I have to work hard at it everyday. The exercising the last couple of weeks has been really good. I do my strength training 3 days a week as scheduled. I do BodyRev about 3X a week. And I either walk or bike, 5-6 X a week. For some reason, it has been easy doing this.

The food is going pretty well. I am making sure to add lots of fruits and veggies to my diet. It's not that hard to do. J is good with buying lots of fresh produce on his way home from work. When I make a Slimfast shake for breakfast (which is usually 4-5 times/week), I used to add only one kind of fruit. Now I am adding 2 and even 3 different kinds. We keep cut up carrots in the fridge at all times for crunchy snacking and I have to have my favs on hand at all times... sugar snap peas! They are sweet and crunchy... I just love them. I am making small changes in my diet. I completely switched to skim milk in October and just recently switched to Whole Wheat bread (told J though that he has to read the ingredients... first item must be whole wheat flour... not enriched flour). I try to take smaller portions and make substitutions where I can. No soda unless we are out to dinner or a movie (which turns out to be only about 3X/month). There is still room for improvement but considering how I used to eat... this is still a huge difference for me. I will make other substitutions as I go along.

In the past, I would DIET... completely limit myself on what I could and could not eat. YEah, that would always last about 4 days. Then I gave up because I was either hungry all the time... or craving my favs. Or there was the time, that I dieted during the week and on weekends allowed myself to eat whatever I wanted. Stilll no life style change there.

This time around (and alot of the credit goes to Alden and my buddies on the BB) I am doing this every day.... I have to... I have to think about it everyday in order to make it work. It's really not that hard... aww, hell, who am I kidding? It is hard... it is work.... but I am not giving up yet. I almost did a couple of months ago. I hit that plateau and nothing seemed to motivate me. I really needed to determine what it was that I wanted and what exactly I was willing to do to acheive it.

Yes, I want to lose weight. But it is really so much more than that. I want to have energy. I don't want to LOOK fat. I want to be able to do activities with my kids and not be winded or tell them to go on without me. I want to look in the mirror and not see a FAT person anymore. I want to live to see my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I want to LIVE this life I have... not just sit on the sidelines watching it go by.

So when it all comes down to it... it is what I do, day in and day out that will make the changes happen... there is no instant gratification here. It will really take a lifestyle change to make it happen.

Haven't really posted much lately...

Between work and enjoying the beautiful weather that decided to grace us, I have not been on the computer much. Things are good. The girls have not killed each other. K1 has decided to take up running. So far he is running 1 mile each night. I give part credit to the fact that he has to run the Mile in PE this week and I believe that I will take some credit for that as well. It is interesting to see the kids pick up on my new habits, whether it is reading nutrition labels or exercising.

I am off to work tonight. I still haven't turned in my two week notice. I need to talk to S. first about the job. I won't hear from the library til next week the earliest. Decisions need to be made. Just the thought that I won't be working there much longer makes going in so much easier!

The new bike is working out great! I really love it! It's not like I have to make myself go for a ride... I really enjoy doing it. And last week I bought a new "computer" odometer/tripometer/etc... for it. So now I can see exactly how fast I am pedaling... how far I am riding... and calories burned. So far I am keeping it to 5 miles which I do in about 25 minutes and then do a 5 minute cool down ride... very easy, gentle pedaling around our driveway or a parking lot. I would really like to increase the mileage but I need to pace myself - no burnout.

I have been watching the scale lately but more for curiosity sake.... AND I have gained 2 lbs!! I am LOL at that because normally I would be discouraged and upset. BUT I have been exercising so much...both CARDIO and strength training exercises that I can feel the muscles developing. My stomach is slowly flattening and clothes from last summer are TOO big! So no worries! I will just keep doing what I have been doing and eventually the scale will start to go in the direction that I want it to.

Off to the hellhole... ooops, I mean work. :) I need to find some time to post more and to do my good things posts. I miss them.

I had to do it...

On the BB, our resident fitness guru... our Admiral of the Fleet has been MIA and no one... I mean, NO ONE! has posted at all these last two weeks. I don't know about everyone else but I love the support and encouragement that is offered on the BB. I am sure that it is how I was so successful in the early days of my new fitness self. So I decided to take the plunge and post a Gator Patrol report. I hope the others out there report in and I sincerely hope Alden isn't offended that I reported him as MIA. I am sure the man is extremely busy.

So here's my report request...


Gator Patrol Report in... I miss Alden but we can still do this while he is MIA...

Posted by Carrie on 4/23/2007, 20:47:53

Hey, all! I miss us all getting together to talk about our struggles and successes. I hope no one has given up while Alden is MIA. We can do this! We are still a team and have always provided support and encouragement to each other while under Alden's fantastic leadership. So how is everyone doing???

I finally have my ship headed in the right direction!!! All I see is blue water ahead and I am so excited!!!! I have changed my focus and not letting it be about weight... which is good considering that I have added 2 lbs in the last two weeks... but I have been working out harder than I have in a long time and I can feel muscles forming once again, so I am not worried!

I am revving, biking, walking and doing strength training exercises. I have joined SparkPeople and am using it to help log my daily food intake and my daily exercise. It is fun to watch how many calories go in and how many calories are burned up. The part I am struggling with most is my water intake. I am aiming for 80 ounces and making it about 4 days... its those other 3 that I am really missing on it. But I am trying to find different solutions to help me acheive that goal and things seem to be improving!

ALDEN... if you are out there (or anyone else who might know)... I should know this but do any of the BR exercises qualify as cardio (except for cardio, of course). It seems to me that you mention in the dvd that legs is a cardio workout. Also, have you ever determined how many calories are burned using the BodyRev? Curious minds want to know...

Okay here's last week...

Bking - 5 miles... 6X
Walking - 40 minutes... 3X
BR - legs 3X
BR - abs 3X
BR - arms 3X

Plus a routine of 10 strength exercises (2 sets, 12 reps each) on S, T, Th.

Goal for next week... BR Cardio (I have been avoiding it for too long! Face thy fears, Carrie!)

Hope everyone else is having a good week!!!

How Do You Approach the Day??

Gawd, how true! This hits home for me in so many ways... there are so many days when I start the day worrying about something, or tired, or just in a general bad mood. And doesn't that just set the tone for the rest of the day??? I was once told by a former boss of mine, that my mood tends to set the tone for the night at work... now, I find it hard to believe that I am responsible for 2o+ people on any given night but what she was trying to say that on the nights that I was up and high energy, that it was contagious and others picked up on that. She may have had a point but I still think she gave me too much credit for the mood of the crew. But I can see where her point does affect my daily life because if I am feeling bad, sad, mad, frustrated... I know my kids pick up on that and I have now started them off on a bad day as well.

I was thinking about this quote though and how it affects my fitness self. Lately, I am just enjoying life. I do have some back burner problems that are simmering... I don't mean to imply that all is perfect but I am not dwelling on those. I know they are there and I am taking steps to work on them. But anywho, back to my point... I did have one, right?... These last two weeks I have just had a completely different renewed sense of exhilaration! I look forward to exercising... whether it is the BodyRev or biking/walking or my strength exercises that I am doing. I love the feeling of euphoria that I seem to have right now. I look at my day and try to decide ahead of time where I am going to fit in some exercise and if it works, GREAT... if it doesn't, I try to adjust. And if I absolutely can't fit what I intended in, then I try to modify... my new motto is... Something... Anything is better than nothing!

Today K2 babysat her little charge at our house... K1 needed new gym shoes (he tried telling me he needed size 14!!! He got a size 12.)... there was dinner to worry about... I only had 2.5 hours of sleep this morning because of the interview... and I wanted to exercise... Normally, I would've stressed about wanting to do it all... I would've gotten myself worked up to a point where I was frustrated, upset and frazzled. But today I didn't let it get to me... K2 did her babysitting job... when the "little princess" left at 4:30, we hit some sports stores and the mall for new shoes for K1 (he is running the mile at school tomorrow and his old shoes wouldn't have made it). We spent longer than I had intended on the shoes but we left the mall with a pair he was happy with and that fit... I wasn't all that crazy about the price ($65) but it was cheaper than alot of the others that we saw... so half full type of thing. I decided to take it easy on myself and treat the kids to dinner at the mall (plus, I got to get my sandwich at B&N). We made it home by 7:00 and after seeing that the kids were settled in with their homework, I and my bike hit the road for the last remnants of sunshine. I had a great 40 minute ride thru neighborhood roads... I pushed myself on some and enjoyed the downhill breeze on others. When I came home, it was time to get everyone to bed. And I still managed to get in 35 minutes of my strength training program in.

The day went really well... and all of this on only 2.5 hours of sleep! But this was a perfect example for me of how a positive attitude can help get so much accomplished. Did I do everything? No... I have dirty dishes in the sink... not many though and they will be done in the a.m. while the kids are getting ready for school. No problem.

I really have to try to remember this... because I know this isn't a life change for me yet...but if I could just get to the point where this could be the norm, how great that could be. Oh, and as for influence... the girls had a much better day... I complimented them how nice it was not to have any fighting going on today.... small skirmishes but no major battles. AND K1 at 8:00 asked if it was okay if he went out and ran a mile... which he did. So maybe my positive attitude had something to do with that.

Think about it... how will you face your busy, hectic day tomorrow?

Today was better...

With respect to the girls... at least bedtime was smoother. However, we were shopping at Target and I swear the two of them just have to nitpick at each other... K2 has to hang onto the cart that K3 is pushing... then will walk faster or slower. Then if K2 said anything to her sister, K3 would respond and respond and respond. My mantra became "Just let it go. Just let it go." Ahh well, I need to appreciate the good times more and not take them for granted.

Good news... the library called me. I had filled out an application back in November for a library technician job. I never even made it to interview stage... talk about depressing!! Anyway, today I got a call from the library... nothing new there as they call me just about every other day letting me know that I book I have on hold came in. However, this time as I was listening to the machine, the woman says "hi, this is Sue from the *** library..." And I am thinking, "Huh, that's new... they never introduce themselves when they call about a hold." The woman then goes on to say that they are currently interviewing this week and next for a job posting and they had my application on file... was I still interested. Well, yeah... I really don't want to start a full time job right before summer but if I am offered it I will have to think about making it work. The library pays pretty well... Well, better than what I get now, that's for sure! However, it sounds like they are interviewing lots of people for this job so I am not getting my hopes up... if it works out great... if not, that might not be such a bad thing. Anyway, I am interviewing on Friday morning and I hate interviews... I never feel like I interview well. We'll see...

I did well on the exercise front today... another 30 minute bike ride with the girls (that makes 4 bike rides in a row!), then I did BR legs and abs today (did BR abs and arms yesterday.) I also took my measurements AGAIN today... although I have no idea how I compare to January. I lost the paper I wrote them down on and I thought I entered them on the computer but if I did I can't find where... so today I start fresh with the measurements. Still it would've been nice to see how I did... then again... maybe not... considering how lackluster my exercise performance was this winter. :)

I finished The Raven Prince today... awesome book!!! It was so unlike what I grew to hate about historicals... this one actually deserved a scorching rating... it was HOT! My biggest problem reading too many historicals is how everyone is so prim and proper and there is not a lot of nautiness... yes, I know I LOVE P&P but I still don't want a steady diet of it. Give me something HOT and I usually found that historicals didn't cut it. Also, I love that this one, neither the hero nor the heroine is perfect. He has pox scars and she is plain. Gawd save me from the "perfect people". This was a great read! I may have to run to B&N tomorrow to find the next in the series... although from what I read it may not be quite as good but that's okay... just so it's not a dud.

I should go to bed... 5 a.m. comes way too soon... but before I go... my 3 good things:
1. Reading a GOOD book.
2. News about the job interview.
3. My boss telling me I did an awesome job last night (I did, and deserved her noticing.)

Commitment...

There are only two options regarding commitment. You're either IN or you're OUT. There's no such thing as life in-between.
- Pat Riley, basketball coach

So when it comes to getting more fit... am I in or out? I thought I was in... I really did. Even when I got sidetracked and lost my focus, I still thought I was in but looking back I know that I wasn't. At the time I really believed that I wanted to be in the game but just couldn't find the motivation, but then how could I really be in the game then? I think deep down, I just got tired... I was upset that I wasn't seeing results... although I know I wasn't putting my all into it. How could I expect to see results?

Right now, I feel like I am more in the game than ever before. I am not going gang busters on the BR... But I now have a plan in mind... M, W, F are my BR days... these are the days that I need to do 3 - 15 min workouts. On Sun, Tues, Thurs, I need to do some sort of strength exercises and try to fit in some cardio workout, like walking, biking or BR cardio, plus these are the days to add an extra abs if I feel like it. Before I was trying to BR 5X/week. And while some weeks I did it, others I fell short... and when that happened then I was down on myself and felt like a failure. I think this plan will work out much better for me. I love doing my BR but I started to get bored with it. I think by doing this plan I should be able to avoid the boredome since I have a little more choice in what I do plus, it allows me Saturdays off. But so far I have put a bike ride or a walk on those days anyway.

So it's only been two weeks but I feel great! I am back to logging my food intake... becoming more aware of calorie count (my SP plan says I should be eating between 1400-1800 calories/day... for the most part it has been pretty close to the 1400 mark). I am getting some sort of exercise every day. I am reading nutrition articles to make myself more aware and more informed. This time I think that I am really committed.