Top O' The Mornin' To Ya...

...its 6:38am and Im up getting ready to go running. Unfortunetely, JaNae had to cancel our 3 mile speed run but I figured since Im already up and its nice and chilly outside Ill just run my own speed mile so I can get that done. IM only going out for 2.5 miles but Im going to run it as hard and fast as I can. Im still pretty psyched to see how much Ive improved. lol..the only issue with the 2.5 at my house is that the last half of the run is entirely made out of killer hills. They're very slight, but they last the ENTIRE last half with no break so they aren't fun. I'll have to struggle not to psych myself out. Anyways, I have a really good playlist on my ipod so Im ready to go.

Come run with me, Jenna!!

-Dee

Run Run Run Run Run Run Run.

Today's Weight: 178.4lbs

so yesterday JaNae and I offically extended our run by another 1/2 mile. The total was 3.5 miles. It was so easy!!!! In fact, it was so easy that we decided to up it to 4 miles instead of 3.5

sooo..from now on we will only run 4 miles a week instead of 3.5!! I feel super accomplished. :)

I just need to find a way to incorporate some more arms and abs into our workouts....our regular strength workouts are getting too easy.

yay!

-Me

Pushing It.

Today's weight: 178.4lbs

Okay, so even with my success in losing a few more pounds, I'm not shedding the weight like I would like to...so JaNae and I have decided to 'push it' with out workouts a little bit. Today we are going to attempt to run a 3.5 mile instead of our usual 3 mile ( well, that was the plan...its raining right now and I'm not sure if JaNae got a chance to map it out.) and I'm hoping that will kick start the metabolism a little. Also, not sure if I mentioned it but its worth mentioning again...we are going to run without the kids on Saturday and see how fast we can go. usually we run on average a 32 minute 3 mile...but that's also with a jogging stroller and chatting the entire way to take our minds off of the fact that we are running. lol. I think if we take our ipods and try not to chat as much, just run the best we can, that we can lower our time to at least 30 minutes, if not a little lower. Ill record the results in here when the time comes.

I'm also considering adding additional strength training to the stuff we already do. We usually alternate days between abs and arms. I'm thinking that I will always do crunches everyday, regardless...I'm hoping the added muscle will help burn more calories and also tone me up.

My diet has been going 'OK' at best. I cave alot, unfortunately, because there is always some sort of delicious food at work. Luckily, I wont be there this weekend. Every weekend the doctors buy us food from random dine out places all over the place. Last weekend there were hot dogs and cheese fries etc etc. and you can buy whatever you want for free. To a food addict like me, that's heaven...but also diet death. lol. So Ill be in control this weekend, thankfully. Also, next Sunday is fast Sunday...so obviously I don't over eat on that day. I'm hoping to see close to 175 by the end of this month...that would get me to the 8 lbs I wanted to lose, I do believe....or at least very close to it.


I'm feeling good!

I'm still frustrated with my body in pictures and in the mirror though...I still look fat compared to the young thriving blonde that I used to be. Ill get it back, I think Ill just have mom hips from now on. :)

Motivated!
-Dee

Who Knew?

Today's weight: 178.2 lbs


Im assuming this means my bland diet works. :) lol...Ive been making variations to it so that I dont go crazy...but they arent big ones. Like, Ill give the chicken seasoning or Ill have a LUNA bar instead of a snack of almnds or something.

I also caved and ate four cupcakes at work yesterday so who knows whats going on with my metabolism?

I recieved a letter from Jenna in the mail the other day and I was so excited! Pen pals rock! You can be expecting one soon, Jen :)


As far as things on the excersize front go, JaNae and I want to kick it up a notch. We are adding on another half mile this week which will bring us up to 3.5 miles. Also, Saturday, Im leaving Drewster with my mom in the morning and shes leaving Cambrie with Brady and we are running our 3 miles together as fast as we can without the jogging stroller. Im excited to see how low we can get our time.

In October, one of the doctors at work and I are going to compete in a race in Chicago city. Its going to be so fun! JaNae is going to run it too. Its called the pumpkin run. How fun will that be???!!! :D

Well, I actually have to go run now...We have to run before day care today because JaNae has plans. just wanted to give a quick update.

Im in the 170s now!!! wOOOOOO!!!!!!
-Dee

Booya, WooWoo!!!

Today's Weight: 179.0 lbs

Finally. lol...I have started a new diet that has helped me detox and start shedding weight again. Like I said before, it wasn't my exercise that was holding me back, it was my eating habits. I got this diet from my favorite magazine ever, FitnessMagazine.com

Ill just copy and paste. Ive made a few moderations to this diet to make it bearable...but here's the gist:


Dr. Flavor-Full's Diet
His Menu
Secret sauces and extra seasonings get the boot! Nutrition researcher David Katz, MD, won't overexcite his taste buds while trying to lose weight. "The more variety of foods and flavors you introduce, the more appetite is stimulated," Dr. Katz explains. "If your diet resembles an all-you-can-eat buffet, you're going to eat a lot." Dr. Katz also says that restricting meal options will help eliminate temptation. Redundancy is the safest bet.

Aim to consume 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day, and stick to the plan for four to six weeks, he advises. Take a multivitamin to get the proper nutrients. Adhering to this program for the full six weeks should help you shed up to 20 pounds, he notes.


Protein: Egg whites, beans, lentils, skinless chicken (white meat), white fish (e.g., flounder, tilapia), nonfat cottage cheese, walnuts, and almonds.
Carbs: Mixed greens, broccoli, spinach, mixed berries, whole-grain cereal from Kashi, Health Valley, or Nature's Path.
Fat: Olive and canola oils.
Beverages: Water is the mainstay.

Dr. Katz's Sample Daily Menu
Breakfast: Bowl of whole-grain cereal with skim milk and mixed berries

Lunch: Mixed green salad with lentils and egg whites

Dinner: Mixed green salad, grilled fish or chicken, cooked vegetables, and whole-grain bread, pasta, or grains

Snack: A mixed-berry salad or a handful of unsalted almonds or walnuts

-- David Katz, MD, director of Yale Prevention Research Center, author of Dr. David Katz's Flavor-Full Diet

Eating Nothing But Junk.

Okay, seriously my excersizing has been pretty awesome this week. I have ran every day, either on my own or with JaNae, and we even did some strength training and dvds...

...my only issue is that Ive been eating nothing but junk. Im terrified to step on the scale. Im on my period so i drave chocolate. Well, tonight I ate an entire bag of ghiradelli chocolate...and some salt and vinegar chips. So bad.

I am gettin gmy act together starting NOW.

I am inspired to be skinny again. I think sometimes we all fall into a 'junk food rut', where we pig out and feel like giving up...but thats the thing, I wont give up...Ill just stop eating junk food.

heres a picture of me I took tonght after I went running through a rainstorm. I felt pretty hardcore even if I am still a chunky girl. Lol..Notice I cut half of my body out of the picture. :)

Ultra Cheesy ipod mix that should last up to 3 miles on a run.

i dont know if this is the 'most hip' mix I have but its the one thats currently in my ipod. Most of the music is cheesy stuff that I listen to when Im in a certain mood...but its good when youre running.

In no particular order:

'Push it to the limit' by Corbin Bleu
'Down' by Jay Sean featuring Lil Wayne (If anything, just picture Lil Wayne's face and it makes you run faster. rofl)
'Bonnie Taylor Shakedown...2k1 (demo) by HelloGoodbye There are a few versions of this, go for the one on the EP with an avocado on the front.
'Devil In Jersey City' By Coheed and Cambria (my fave band of all time for a billion years now)
'Knock You Down' By Keri Hilson featuring Kanye and NeYo
'Sesame, Smeshame' By The Early November (My other favorite band of all time for a billion years now)
'Island' by the Starting Line
'Reaction' by Ace Enders and a Million Different People (Ace from The Early November's new band. love it)

Like I said, its a wierd mix of my favorite bands and then other stuff that I only really listen to while running. Some of the songs have a good tempo going to run in time with, some are good to wind down with. lol...the corbin bleu one is ridiculous, but its got a good beat.

-me at 2:56 am.

TURBOJAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today's Weight: 180.1

I haven't lost any for awhile, but I haven't gained either...so I'm pretty sure I'm plateauing and will soon start sprints to change that.

Until the I wanted to pay homage to one of the DVDs that JaNae and I work out to on our 'off days' for running. As much as I love running, i cant run every day or Ill kill my body and get discouraged. So on the off days we dance our booties off to ....TURBOJAM!

Its so awesome! Its a whole system of dvds and stuff that really works. Honestly Im not a fan of dvds, but TURBOJAM rocks.

Its so fun and I don't even realize I'm working out while I do it. but it def tones your body and gets your heartbeat up. Its one of those 'you get what you put in' type workouts where if you really try then you get results.

There is also an ab portion that we do after our runs some days and its KILLER. But its killer in a good way. I can see and feel results....even if its under a small layer of flab. lol.

Try TURBOJAM. Its awesome.

Next time Ill post about the other dvd we use from 'The Biggest Loser'

:)

I didn't weigh myself today. I'm going to hold off until the end of the week because I am about to start my period and I always get depressed at my weight right beforehand. It gets ridiculous.

My latest revelation has been home cooking. You cant lose weight without portioning and eating well. You can run all you want but if you aren't portioning then it wont matter...same goes for vice versa. Ive noticed lately that if I cook I not only feel super good about the fact that I'm cooking, but I eat better. Even if the recipe is a fattening one, its better than heading on out for some fast food or chowing down on a bunch of candy. The key is to portion it, whatever it is. I have found a good blog I like with tones of recipes, and I went out and bought everything I would need for them...it helps me to stay on track and not give in to fast food cravings.

Its a baby steps thing...eventually Ill make more healthy recipes, but for now I'm just glad that I'm making anything.

So try home cooking...it works. :)

and Jenna, Ill have your play list suggestions up soon :)

-Me

End Of July Comparison Photos.

Stats For The Month:

July's Beginning Weght: 185.4 lbs
July's Ending Weight: 180.8lbs

Total Loss For The Month: 4.6 lbs

Meeehhhhh. I didn't lose the 7lbs that I had made a goal for this month...I just lost about 5. I guess I can't complain though, some loss is better than none or gaining. Im just a little bummed that I didnt hit 7! Thats my goal for the month of August!!! At LEAST 7LBS OF LOSS!!! I can do it! I know I can!!! As for my pictures...Here are the comparison shots from beginning of July to the end of July. I used two different mirrors which I wont be doing anymore because I realized that the pink mirror makes me look skinnier than I really am, I think. Im going to use the more 'realistic' mirror from now on. I still think you can see the change though...





BEFORE:

AFTER:BEFORE:

AFTER:

I think from now on Ill measure inches too, to see what I lose.

-me