Butts N Guts

I am proud to say that since my half marathon training started on Friday, I have not missed a single day of training.  On Friday, I went to the gym and did a quick, but hilly mile on the treadmill and showered before heading to church to see my little sister praise dance in honor of the church’s 53rd anniversary.  Saturday morning I went to my first group training session in Forest Park.  Because the group is much smaller than last year, there was only one other walker.  Last year there were at least 15 of us walkers.  Even though my ultimate goal is to do a light jog during the race, I’m not quite ready to run with the “real” runners.

The new training schedule distances vary according to your current level of ability.  I’m between a level I and the level II.  Level I required one mile and level II required two miles.  Me and the other walker completed a brisk 1.87 miles together.  It was fun to train with the team again and have the support of the staff and the coaches.  My Big little sister invited me to attend a boot camp-like class called Butts n Guts also on Saturday morning.  After group training, I cleaned out my car to keep myself busy before class, because I knew if I went home I would get back in bed.  I met my sister at the community center and we had our first Butts N Guts class with the ex-military man named Omega.  He worked us out!  I was especially tired since I had already walked nearly 2 miles before 8AM.  The class was an interesting interval mixed workout.  We did the stair step, jumping jacks, leg lifts, bicycles, and even ran a couple laps around the gym.  My sister and my niece and I went to Soulard Market after class to get some fresh veggies and new spices.  I was exhausted and slept well when I got home.

Monday was a beautiful day, 70 degrees in November.  Unfortunately though, we had 25 pleadings to be filed in court that day, so there was hardly time to breathe.  I wanted to walk outside so badly, that I walked a couple quick loops (about one mile) around Kiener Plaza downtown.   Only a few of the occupy protestors were still there since the police put them out. By the time I got back to my desk my attorneys were hunting me down.  It was risky for me to leave, but in hindsight I’m glad that I did since I stayed at work until 9:30 PM and would not have had time to go to the gym.

Today however, felt more like November typically feels, a cool 50 degrees.  It was dark and cold by the time I got off work, and I just wanted to go home.  I couldn’t find my Walk at Home DVD, so I turned on my new show “Ringer” with Sarah Michelle Gellar, and walked circles around the living room.  I fast forwarded through the commercials, but walked the entire time.  I guess I walked about 45 minutes.  I certainly wasn’t sweating, because you can only build up so much momentum and speed while avoiding the glass coffee table and fighting the dog that thinks it’s all a game.  But, I still felt good about being active.  I felt dizzy, but good.  Maybe I should invest in a treadmill? Duh! …Anyway, I’m so happy to have fitness as a priority again.

Super Saturday

I had an awesome week!  I’ve been going to the gym and eating healthy. (My internet has been down, sorry I haven’t gotten a chance to blog about it.) Friday, I went to lunch with my Big Little Sister at my favorite Mexican restaurant and I did not touch the fresh hot tortilla chips.  I ordered a salad instead of my regular deep fried burrito… After years of my father begging me to read the The South Beach Diet Book, I finally did.  I decided to give the diet an honest try.  If you want to know more about the South Beach Diet, you can check out my Video Book Review.  My Dad has done a good job of maintaing his weight loss and adopting the diet as a lifestyle change.  Someone asked me what’s the status with Weight Watchers?  I still love Weight Watchers, but I wasn’t working the program like I should.  I was simply tired of keeping points.  I learned from my hypnosis CD that’s it’s okay to change diet plans every few months or so.  You don’t have to stick with one plan forever.  This week I’ve eaten delicious omelets, and great snacks like celery dipped in garlic-flavored hummus.  Who knew I would like that? 

I realized that I have 2 choices; I can track my food and eat everything in proportion, or only eat certain food (High protein, low carb, low fat) and not track.  I actually just remembered that Weight Watchers has a “Core” plan that I never thought to try because I thought restricting food was too ridiculous.  But, I’m giving South Beach an honest try to see which I like more.  Once the carb cravings died down after a couple days, it wasn’t so bad.

 I mentioned before that I’m helping my church with a walk-a-thon.  Last week there were six of us at my 7 AM group training session.  However, this week, most of last week’s participants were out of town or unavailable.  But, I dragged myself out of bed, actually hoping it was raining, or that no one would show up.  I despise mornings…I was standing there alone at 7:05, and I was ready to head back to my car, until I saw my sister’s car, speeding toward the History Museum where we planned to meet.  There was no turning back now, because she hates mornings as much as I do.  She said she only had a few hours of sleep, but came anyway to support me.  Then I got a text from one of the girls at the church who was also on her way.  Once she arrived, I told them, I would take them on a scenic walk off the regular path.  Unbeknownst to me, we stumbled upon the 9/11 memorial.  It was so amazing, they had flags representing those that were lost in the tragedy 10 years ago. Each flag had a brief description of a person that lost their life that day.  It was quite a site to see.  We took some pics and shared “Where were you when the plane hit the tower stories.” 

I didn’t have my iPod tracker thingy on, but my guess is that we walked about 2 miles.  After our walk, I came home and made a broccoli cheese omelet with turkey bacon.  It was yummy.  I did some laundry and dozed off and I was almost late for my orientation boot camp class.  I got a Groupon for 10 Classes for $30.  The class started with awkward endurance/flexibility tests, which reminded me of elementary school gym class.  Finally we got to work out, in a quick mini version of the class.  After doing the “Spiderman” on the floor and jumping jacks for the warm up, it was hard to imagine how difficult a real class will be.  Then, we did interval training as we rotated stations doing squats, planks, and pull ups with resistance bands dangling from the wall.   I think it boot camp class will be a big challenge, but I’m ready!  Tonight my old co-worker friend is having a Fight watch party for Mayweather v. Ortiz.  Now that’s what I call a Super Saturday!

I Heart Bob

Who is Bob? You know Bob and Jillian, Biggest Loser trainer Bob.  Bob Harper, that Bob. Over the weekend I read The Biggest Loser: The Weight Loss Program to Transform Your Body, Health, and Life.  I’m such a nerd I read the whole book cover to cover on Sunday.  It’s an older book written a couple years ago, shortly after the first highly successful season of the Biggest Loser Reality Show.  I watch the show sometimes, but I’m not like a super fan.  The book was still good, I enjoyed it.  I like that it didn’t promise some miracle pill or magic food that will make you skinny overnight.  I didn’t really learn anything new, as I’ve been “dieting” for the last 10 years.  But it was a nice refresher course for the professional dieter like me, or a great start for a beginner.  It hit on all of the things you must do to lose weight and keep it off. 

Rule 1) Find a Reason Why- To be Healthier, to Improve your physical appearance, to Look Great in clothes (one of my major motivations), To be fitter, To Be Normal without life revolving around food (I can’t even imagine how great that would be), to have better relationships, to gain more self respect & self confidence….I think we all could use a little more self confidence.  

Rule 2) Get Organized – Get a calorie counting guide. (I’m such an internet girl that I use the weightwatcher e-tools or calorie count.com).  Get measuring cups or spoons, and a food journal.  Ugh….that is one of the hardest parts of weight loss for me.  I hate writing down my food, I feel stupid having to write down what I eat, it feels “abnormal” coupled with the thought that to be successful, I’ll probably have to do it “forever”  *sigh* That’s just one of the mental roadblocks I need to move on my road to Healthyville…. Anyway, the next tool is a Weight Scale.  It’s recommended that you weigh weekly.  I don’t know if I’ve ever said it, but I usually weigh myself daily in the morning.  That’s not good for everyone, but I use it for information, not judgment.  If it’s a pound or so different it doesn’t bother me, but if it’s a few pounds, it’s a reminder to cut back on the calories.  Next, they recommend Mantras for Motivation like “Keep on Keeping on”, “I have a strong healthy body”, ” I’m Beautiful” etc.  Telling yourself positive thoughts is integral part to being a successful “Loser”  

Rule 3) Eating to Lose – The book discussed Calories needed for weight loss formula is your current weight x 7.  For example if I weigh 160 lbs (don’t laugh, I will one day)…anyway If  I weigh 160, then multiply by 7, my daily caloric intake needed for weight loss would be 1,120 calories.  It also talked about basics like reading a label and how to eat a balanced meal with the right serving sizes.  It further stressed the idea of eating 4-6 small meals a day.  I usually eat breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner. 

Rule 4) The Exercise Plan- They have a really nice 12 week cardio workout plan mixed with walking/running, based on your current level of fitness.  I think I do pretty good working out usually at least 3 times a week, sometime I don’t get a chance to blog about every time I get in some activity, but usually 3 times a week.  Reading the book helped me realize I can amp it up to 4 times a week.  My first thought was “I don’t have time.”  But as I kept reading, one of the contestants recommended Biggest Loser DVD’s.  I put it in my Netflix queue and made a plan for a quick morning workout.  Even though, y’all know I don’t “do” mornings too well, getting up 30 minutes earlier and working out in my PJ’s in my living room is not going to kill me.  Like my girl said, this is the kinda stuff it’s going to take right? 

I got the The Biggest Loser Boot Camp DVD with Bob.  It was really good…dare I say I enjoyed it?  Bob talks to the screen a lot and has tons of positive and encouraging things to say, while pushing you at the same time.  I did the warm up, the Week 1 routine, and the cool down, and was done in about 30 minutes.  I was sweating good too.  I was shocked I got in a “real” workout without leaving the house.  It was only one time during the moving pushups that I stopped and told Bob “you’re crazy”  and he said just say, Bob I love you.  And I did!

Amber lost nearly 90 pounds with Jillian’s program!

A Week of Activity

I don’t feel really chatty today.  I think it’s because I’m tired.  I walked on Monday with Mr. Man, I went to extreme boot camp class on Tuesday with my girl from work, I did my normal weekly walk with my Best Friend yesterday and Boot camp again today.  It really pays to have a surplus of workout buddies.  If it weren’t for my friends, I probably would have only worked out 1 or 2 of the last four days.  If you ever feel like you need motivation to get in some extra activity find some fitness friends to help you stay on track.  My legs are looking tight and sexy, but I think I’ll take a day or so off, I don’t want to over do it.  However, I really do need to get back to running.  Walking in the park and pushups are a great way to stay in shape, but there’s nothing quite like running.   I want to be ready for my Sista Strut Breast Cancer 5K  in October.  And then take it to the next level.  I get emails everyday asking about a 5K bridge to 10K podcast.  Yes, it is coming.  It is a long process.  But the process has finally been started.  I created my own plan, because I couldn’t really find one that I liked.  I also have most of my weekly start up tips prepared.  And,  I have some great suggestions for music.  I’m working hard for you guys.  If you want to leave a music suggestion for the 10K podcast, just leave a comment here….Well that’s about it, short and sweet, I’m calling it a night girls and boys.  Bye!

Gold Star Day

I woke up this morning and got on the scale, and I was floored, shocked, amazed and disappointed.  I saw a number that I haven’t seen in a really long time.  I started praying to God to help me.  This weight loss thing can be so hard sometimes.   I know that I have a gift of helping people with their journey, but its so frustrating that my progress made a U-turn and is running in the wrong direction.  I started panicking, telling myself; I’ll never be able to make my fitness DVD, will my blog readers and runners start to think I’m a fraud?  And then I had to catch myself.  That downward spiral only goes down and nothing good comes from it.  I prayed God just help me with today.  I started remembering what my weight watcher leader and my Hollywood Aunt always say, just take it ONE DAY AT TIME.  I realized, that no, Running Into Shape is not a disaster because I gained a couple pounds and yes, they will still read your blog and  yes your family still loves you because you’re human, and we make mistakes.  I prayed again “Okay God, I’m serious, help a sista out, I can’t do it by myself.”  Instead of hitting up the deli shop at my job for a quick muffin, I took a vitamuffin top (100 cal) and a weightwatcher yogurt….(amaretto flavor, so delicious)…. Then I told my co-worker first thing, I’m eating a salad & water for lunch, nothing else, not negotiable.  She’s working on her weight too, and she signed up Lyle’s Boot Camp class with me!  I am so excited to have another workout buddy.  You know I live for a plan, so I found my next 5K.  It’s called the Sista Strut to help bring awareness to the startling number of women of color with breast cancer in my area.  It’s a walk, but it’s not until October, so I hope to run the whole thing.   

After work, I came home to let Nyah out and get dressed for class.  I picked up my co-worker friend and we were on our way.  We were just about 3 minutes late and already missed 3 exercises.  Lyle is serious about his class.  We joined in the jumping jacks and squat thrusts.  Then, he had us lay the mats on an incline and do sit ups and pushups and repeat.  That little hill made it that much harder.  But thank GOD, for a cool day, it was only in the 80′s with a cool breeze.  I’ll take that over ridiculously hot days we’ve been having.  Class was so nice to do with a friend, and have that extra encouragement during the suicide runs and planks.  I guess God was listening this morning, because I had a Gold Star day!

What Did Carli Eat Today?

B-Vita Muffin Top, WW Amaretto Yogurt (actually quite filling combo), Green Tea w/ Splenda

L- Fried Chicken Salad w/Fat Free Italian Dressing, Small breadstick & Water

D- Subway Sandwich & 13 animal crackers (I counted a serving)