129.8~Goal Weight Surpassed!

So excited to step on the scale this morning!  I knew I was close to 130, but it felt amazing to see a number of 129.8!  I've now set a  new weight goal of 125~goal pants fit, but not comfortably yet!  I *think* 125 will be as far as I want to go!

And with that, I'm off to drink my water and head to the park for a power walk!  Hope everyone is having an amazing day!

wonderful photo by talented photographer Erica Miller, taken Sept 18th

EVERYBODY MUST GET TONED!!

I've finally added strength exercises to my routine!  It's taken awhile, not exactly sure why.  Years ago, I lifted weights 3 times a week, doing supersets, which I absolutely loved!  I eventually lost track of that routine, but recently found another in the September issue of  'FITNESS' magazine.  Supersets work a little differently from regular weight lifting, by cutting downtime between sets and keeping the heart rate up, as well as working opposing muscle groups.   Two or three different exercises are completed in succession and then the sequence is repeated two more times before resting and changing to exercises working different muscles.
I'm less than 5 pounds away from my goal weight, and it's time to tone up!  Can't wait to have nicely toned arms again! 

AUG 19~133.6 37 1/2-28 1/4-36 7/8

"If you go down to the woods today

You're sure of a big surprise.

If you go down to the woods today,

You better go in disguise.

For every bear that ever there was,

Will gather there for certain because

Today's the day

The teddy bears have their picnic..."

It's been interesting down on the dikes the last while, 'cuz it's bear city down there!  Two co-workers and I went on Sunday night, where the young bear in the top photo crossed our path.  Not knowing where the Momma was, we turned back, only to be stopped close to the end of the trail by a Momma and her 2 cubs, who'd come up from the ravine.  They were unable to continue on their way as several cars stopped, and the people got out and stood behind the metal gate you can see in the photo.  I wonder if they realized it would not protect them had she decided to charge at them.  Eventually she and her babies went back down the ravine, and after several more minutes, to let them get away, we were able to continue on our way.  A couple nights ago 2 cubs were play fighting between the two dikes!  They are quite adorable~from a distance!
Am power walking 6 days/week most weeks, usually 5k/day.  On weekends I try to get in one non-interval power walk of increasing kms.  This week's goal is 8k, next week 9k, until I am walking over 10.  The Terry Fox run is in one month.  It's on my birthday this year, and this is the year I'm participating!

Lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy

July 17th~

Weight's hovering around 135-137.  I'm finding it's a little tougher to lose these last 10 or so pounds, despite power walking nearly every day!  Am hoping to lose them by the end of the summer, in time to have boudoir photos done for my birthday and family photos done for holiday cards~obviously 2 different sessions!
Yesterday I went to a former co-workers' home for a wine-tasting party.  It was a hoot and a half!  I'm not much of a wine drinker, I prefer the fruity-girly martinis~and have a horrendous alcohol allergy, particularly wicked with white wine~but took some medication (proving the better living thru chemicals theory! :)) and was able to sample some of the reds.  My own offering tho, was a bit more complicated.  Unable to find my current fave, 'Whipped Cream Vodka' at the government grocery, (we get it at a little specialty shop nearby) I decided to pick up 'Tuscan Lemonade'  a yummy pre-mix martini-in-a-bottle.  But when my ride was on it's way, it was nowhere to be found!  After frantically searching, I finally grabbed our bottle of Whipped Cream Vodka from the cupboard and some orange juice from the fridge.  And there it was~chilling!  No surprise really, 'cuz ya want it cold!  So I took both.  And as good as the Tuscan Lemonade is, the Whipped Cream Vodka was the party hit! Mixed with OJ it's an instant creamsickle! It's excellent in hot chocolate, and mixed with root beer it's just like a root beer float!  Seriously, it's the best thing ever, and no one there had heard of it.  We had some terrific drinks and appies and it was so fun catching up with people I no longer work with.  Best of all, I actually lost weight between yesterday and today!
(photo by: Karin C.)

JULY 4~135.8

Remember the Biggest Loser contest?  Picked up my prize on Friday~Canada Day!  I had a Turquoise and silver ring made!  It was so exciting to see it, I'd talked to the jeweller about the stone, but had no idea what the finished ring would look like.  I love it!  It's bold and one-of-a-kind~alot like me!  Well, not that I'm bold, really,  but definately one-of-a-kind.
Friday was Canada day.  Mostly I chillaxed.  Made maple mini-donuts in the afternoon.  In the evening I power walked to a nearby lake to catch the fireworks~they were awesome!  And then power walked back home...
Saturday found me overcoming my fear of propane as I barbequed!   Sunday too!  Bacon wrapped chicken and sliders, both with huge salads.  Today I'm quite tired and taking the day off.   I'll be back at 'er tomorrow!
Am going to do my body a favor and get to bed early tonight...

JUNE~137.8 38 1/2-29-38 1/4

I've surpassed the 20 pound mark!  Still a ways to go, but I'm feeling very proud of myself!

Signed up for an online bootcamp~thru No Excuses Workouts~not the early morning, intense workouts, but geared toward attitude changing and mindset adjusting!    Good timing too~I've started slipping bread into my diet~and last months cutting out workouts is making me feel lazy!  The weather's starting to improve and mid-month brings a committment to power walk 5-7 days/week.  My daughter is working at 6 AM for the next few weeks and I've started power walking before work.  Notice increased energy!  It's a great start to the day!!

Had a great time at the re-union!  It  was fun to re-connect with everyone!  I'd had a power walk right before going, so felt energized and fabulous~and altho the color hasn't come thru well with this photo, I think I look pretty fabulous too!

MAY~141.2 37 3/4-29 1/4-38 1/2

Feelin' pretty sassy!  I've had to shop for some new duds and to my delight, I can wear skinny jeans!  I'm excited about my high-school reunion next month~ I've found and purchased a fabulous, figure hugging dress for the cocktail reception!  Can't wait to wear it!

APRIL~144.5 38-29 3/4-39 1/2

Last year these capris were sooo tight! Now they are huge on me!  I'm very excited, and head off to find the 'give-away 'box in the garage.  And promptly retrieve some cute capris and a jacket, 'cuz now they fit!

Other exciting news: I won the biggest loser with my 13.9 lb weight loss!   The prize: $50.00 gift certificate of my choice! 
April's wet, rainy weather puts a bit of a damper on my workouts, as I keep waiting for the rain to stop.  This means most of my power walking is done at the end of the week, when it's obvious that it's not going to....

MARCH~150.7 39-31-42

I started off doing my power walking late at night~along a creepy, dark unlit road~armed with my barbeque lighter flashlight!  I kept my cell phone in a zip-lock bag to keep it dry in the rain~I don't  wear a watch.  I must have been a sight! It was cold too!  After several nights wearing my fleece jammy pants and freezing, I picked up some wind pants and a couple of fleece tops and a water resistant jacket.  Walking was way more comfortable after that!  
And I kept plugging along with my diet changes.  Found glass water bottles at Starbucks.  'Biggest Loser' is almost over.  I know I'm doing well, but have no idea who else is in the contest...

FEB 2011~154 POUNDS

Feb brought a new set of challenges, as my partner and I had a huge blow-out.  Already living apart, we declared ourselves 'done'.  With impeccable timing, it was 4 days before Valentines Day..
Amp up the motivation!  After all, if I was going to be single, better to look hot!  Blood-pressure creeping up? (thanks Mom, for the genetics!)  weight loss just might reduce it.  And the upcoming high-school re-union in June?  ((Shudder!!))  Yup~health and vanity~powerful motivators!
Somehow I stumble onto 'No Excuses Workouts' on the interwebs and sign up at the end of the month.  Feb 28th marks my first power walking interval..

JAN 2011~158.4 POUNDS 40-32-43

Yikes!!
Nearly 160pounds!  Seeing that number shocked me!  Something inside clicked and I was ready to do this.  There were two categories in our contest, one for those using a specific diet plan and one for those using any other means.  I had decided to do my own thing, I knew anything involving writing stuff down, counting calories, fat grams or carbs wouldn't work for me.  Ditto for diet plans involving pre-purchased meals, bars or shakes.  I needed to make changes I could live long term with and that meant changing my eating habits.  
Sooo~coffee cream~out.  Fat-free cream~in.
Sugar~reduced.  The coffee still had to be drinkable!
Alcohol~out.  Water, water, water~in.
Butter~out
Salad dressing~changed to calorie reduced.
Bread~out.  Huge salads~in.
Anything that could be changed to low fat~in.
Desserts and cupcakes~out.
Portions~reduced.
It was a start, and the first week I lost 3 pounds.  It was encouraging!
 

DEC 2010~

I'm pretty late gettin' the party started here, but it's OK~just have to update a bit!  Late last year I realized with dismay that none of my pants fit!  I needed to wear a fat-sucking garment with dresses, and I needed another party dress since last years didn't fit~again.  And I needed a bigger fat-sucking garment.   In the past 5 years I'd gained 30 pounds and I was done with that!  We were running a 'Biggest Loser' type competition at work starting in January~I signed up...