Kettlebells

I am so sore today!!

I have added in some kettlebell exercises to my routine, and boy do I feel it!!  I'm taking it slow because I hurt my back when I tried to do too much weight and too much activity all at once.  I'm only using a 5 lb kettle bell but the way I feel today, it might as well have been a 50 pounder!  It's a good hurt, though, and I'm pleased at finding something new to add in to my workout.  I've been wanting to for months now!

I've also lost some more weight!  I'm down to 188.0 lbs today!  I hope this keeps up!

My problem area at the moment is my waist, so I've chosen some exercises to help with that area.  I do them after I'm done with my bowflex workout so I'm nice and warmed up.  Since my bowflex works my arms, chest and core, the kettlebell exercises for my waist should be a nice addition! And given that my waist, sides and stomach are all sore today, it must be working!

I'm a little concerned because I have date night on Friday night (alcohol and Mexican food!) and the GA - FL game is Saturday (go Dawgs!) and I will be making my famous chili, jalapeno poppers (wrapped in bacon) and garlic-cheese bread.  But I am hoping that adding in the extra exercise, plus taking the Advocare energy formula again, will make the difference and I won't gain a ton of weight back.

I must say I am quite amazed that the small amount of working out with a 5 lb kettlebell can make me feel so  sore!  When I do the workout, I really don't feel like I'm doing much at all, yet my muscles are telling me quite loudly that I did.  That's the best kind of workout - one that doesn't feel like too much at the time, but gives a great punch!

I'm kind of excited!  I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes!

Get out there and find an exercise that makes you feel good!  It's worth it!

We all Need a Break

I became a bit frustrated because of all the work I felt like I was doing with no results.  So this weekend, I decided I needed a break, even though there would be football food, etc.  So I did not ride the bike.



And guess what?  I've lost weight!  I am back below the 190 barrier - weighing less today than I have in a while.

I think I just needed a break.  And so did my body.  It was getting used to the daily workout and I think it needed the break.  This morning I rode for 75 minutes on my bike, did my butt crunches, leg lifts and other calisthenics and I feel really good!  Kind of rejuvenated.



And I ate without worrying about it this weekend.  I made ham for football Saturday and we snacked on it literally all day long.  And yesterday I made home made mac & cheese (except I did use lower fat cheeses and fat free cream), and I had two helpings.  And still, I'm down in weight.

I think I just needed to give myself a break.  I was consumed with frustration for not losing any weight.

I feel so much better this morning!

The other change I've made is going back on my Advocare energy formula AND adding in the Advocare protein drink for after my workouts.  But I did neither of those things this weekend.  I took a break from EVERYTHING and just gave myself some time to breathe.  In fact, on Sunday, I watched NFL football and played World of Warcraft pretty much all day.  And still lost weight.

So, this week is back to business and I hope to be more energized and get better workouts for having taken the break.

Keep your fingers crossed, and give yourself a break.

Scattered.

I had thought that it was Summer that had caused my slow-down on my weight loss.  But I seem to still be hovering around the same mark.  I think, just maybe, that I've lost my drive.  I've become scattered.

So, now it's time to pick up the pieces and get the ball rolling again!

I had hurt my back decorating for Halloween - just bent over and ::pop:: out went my back.  So I have not lifted weights for about a week.  I'm feeling all better now, so will get back in the swing of things today.  I'm feeling pretty focused and driven today.

We went camping this weekend and that was a lot of fun! Even though we ate poorly (hamburgers, hotdogs, s'mores) I didn't gain much and I exercised a lot while out, so I feel pretty good!

I look back on my early months and the times when I lost more weight I was definitely more focused on the journey.  I was actively working on it.

Now that my bike riding each day is second nature, I don't really feel that driven.  I'm glad I'm doing it - it's a great workout and I am sure my body needs it, but it's just not enough any more.  I have GOT to find something else to fit into my routine.  I think I'll hover at this weight until I do.  I need to do MORE.  Somehow ...

It's worrisome that it is this time of the year:  Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas - all weight loss busters.  But I can't blame my failure to lose weight on the time of the year.  Wasn't I just blaming the summer?  And so now it's fall, and I'm going to blame the holidays?  Nope.  I gotta find a way to make this work.  There are always holidays and birthdays and special occasions and date nights.

The one thing that I have learned from this summer is that I will probably be able to maintain my weight loss. That's amazing and terrific and definitely something to look forward to, but I've got to get to the weight I'm wanting first!  And I'm just kind of stuck.

I'm sure I'll think of something.  I think the key is the thinking part.  Somehow when we think and focus and ruminate on something, a solution tends to show up sooner or later.

Myself, I'm hoping for sooner.

Self-Worth

Wow.  I had always thought that we were tougher on ourselves and meaner to ourselves than anyone else can be.  We have that negative voice always nipping in our ears about how fat we look or how weak we are that we couldn't keep from eating that piece of cake or whatever.  But every now and then, I see something that reminds me that not only do we face our own self-criticisms and negative-speak, but there are other people out there - bullies - who can be worse than our own inner voices.

I'm talking about the incident that happened to Jennifer Livingston - the news anchor from WKBT-TV in La Crosse, Wisconsin.  I just saw it this morning on Good Morning America and I am amazed at how unfeeling and ... well, cruel ... some people can be.  A viewer wrote an e-mail to Ms. Livingston attacking her based on her weight.  She chose to fight back and did so with dignity and reason.  She said something that struck a chord with me:

"Don't let your self-worth be defined by bullies."

What a wonderful way to phrase it.  She is taking the attack and using it to positive ends.  All I can say is:  You Go Girl!!  For a look at the story, click here.

It's bad enough that we have self-worth issues due to our own inner bullies.  But to be attacked from outside by someone who doesn't even know the story behind the weight, by someone who is making assumptions and attacking without thought, that can really hit hard.  And it is uncalled for.

So I am taking the incident to comment on self-worth.  We all have issues with it.  We all know we are overweight.  We see it every day in the mirror.  And we didn't get here through laziness.  No one out there sat down and said, "Hey, I think I'm going to turn into a fat, lazy cow today!" and then proceeded to work hard on becoming fat.  For some of us, life got in the way.  Age and four kids certainly helped me down my road to obesity.  For others, it is a medical issue of some kind.  So what we have to do is give ourselves a break.  Remind ourselves that, yes, we are fat, but we are trying to do something about it.  One day at a time.

We need to try and keep from self-negativity by reminding ourselves what we are doing, by tracking our progress, by reaching out for support from each other, by giving support to others going through the same journeys.  And, yes, there are going to be bullies out there who attack us and make sure we know we are fat (just in case we've forgotten).  Which makes it all the more important to remember that we are more than that number on the scale and that we will conquer this!

Try and love yourself today.  You are worth it!