Couch to 5 K...the big day!

I am loving running! It's more like jogging, but I'm doing it. I have never ran before...ever. Tonight I did the infamous week 5, day 3. It is running 20 minutes without a break. That is huge for me!! If you look at my calendars, January is the last month I worked out, until I started this 6 weeks ago. Woooohooo!

Since this was such a big step tonight I did my very first vlog post! Be nice please!




Sorry the 2nd video is so dark.

Have a great week!

I did it!

I feel so good. I got up at 5:30 AM. It did however take me 20 minutes to make the bed, get dressed, get h20, and get the DVD running, but I made it. Then it took another 30 minutes to complete the Hip Hop Abs. It was great for starting out again. I have to pat myself on the back because I'm not a morning person, but I plan on doing it again tomorrow.



What is your favorite form of exercise?

The 30 Day Shred

Even though I've not been eating as well as I should, I have been exercising. My January calendar looks better than any other month since I've restarted my Journey back in March 09. I just finished my 23rd day of the 30 Day Shred. I had taken off a whole week. This is not a good idea. I did level 1 today and let me tell you I felt every single muscle working the whole time! I can barely type right now. But I love it!

This DVD by Jillian Michaels is awesome! It's only 20 minutes. It is very intense with three levels. Each level is broken down into segments which include cardio, strength and abs. I have seen results with this workout! Unfortunately I took no pictures of myself. I finally decided I should measure myself on the 10th day. I know I've lost inches in the waist by my pants. I'm loving my new bicep and calf muscles. I'm excited to finish and see how many inches I've lost in 20 days.

After the 30 days I plan on keep 'shredding' and add more cardio to the mix!

Are you a Shredder?

Day 6....I Did IT!

Well today I completed my own personal challenge!

I exercised 6 days this week!! The most I'd exercised since March was 3 x a week. You can check my exercise calendar...there is lots of room for improvement there. I have not been consistent in the exercise department. It felt FANTASTIC to complete something I started.



Tonight I walked 1 mile, 11:30 PM! I will have to confess the last two days I have weighed 4 lbs. higher than last week! I am somewhat discouraged by that. Even if my TOM is approaching I would think the extra exercise would counteract the gain. I'm praying tonight that the weigh in will not be THAT bad. Guess we will find out tomorrow! Wish me luck!

Day 5...I Really Don't Wanna...

10:00 P.M. approaches...

Well, guess what? I haven't exercised yet. I turn on the DVD and make the decision to exercise. This is the first day in the challenge that I felt exhausted, and I absolutely did NOT want to do it!! UGH! But, I made the decision to do it anyway. I have to say of course I'm glad I walked the 2 miles tonight...but still exhausted. Guess what else? Tomorrow after exercising I will have met my goal of exercising 6 days this week! I sure hope it pays off on Weigh in Wednesday!! We will see.

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Today I spent the day with a wonderful friend of mine, Tammy. Tammy was recently diagnosed with cervical cancer. Please say a prayer for her!

Have a healthy week!

Day 4...Walked 2 miles

I did it! I exercised before 10:00 PM! Woohoo! I walked 2 miles tonight. If you have been reading my daily exercise challenge this week you will notice I am NOT on a schedule! I prefer exercising in the mornings. Just cannot seem to get it together. Tonight, I got it done at 6:00 PM while dinner was finishing up in the crock pot and oven. BBQ beef sandwiches and sweet potato fries. Not the healthiest, but I turned my left over pot roast into the BBQ beef. My hubby does not eat left overs very well. Therefore, I have to get creative with the leftovers. He loved it! This coming week we will be having more chicken and fish to make up for the beef overload this week! My eating today has not been the healthiest. I was off to a great start with a green monster, but the rest of the day was not a very good eating day! Better get back on track tomorrow!!

I really sweat tonight. I use to hate sweating. Now I embrace it! I love thinking about saying goodbye to some of the toxins built up in my body. Here I am red, hot, and sweaty. Not the most flattering pic, but I'm proud that I am sticking to the challenge I set for myself this week! For some reason this week I really want to meet my goal. Putting my words/thoughts into action!

sweaty proof!

Did you sweat today? If not, get up and just DO IT! You will be happy you did!

I promise. ;o)

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If you have not been by Jen's... Prior Fat Girl, please go. Her family has had an unimaginable tragedy this weekend. Prayers and support are needed!

Day 3....Resistance Training

I know, I know...this should be day 4 that I have exercised. Well, like day 1 and day 2 I waited until after 10:00 last night before I decided I better get this exercise in. Well, about that time I started having stomach cramps. Let's just say I couldn't workout. Something else was taking up my time. No exercise on the 3rd day. That means I will have to exercise on Sunday instead.



That should have taught me a lesson. Don't wait until the last minute! 10:00 PM again tonight I decided to do resistance training. I did push ups, biceps, triceps, squats, calf raises, ab work, and more. You will not be able to guess what I used for weights??

It's not that I don't have any weights, I just didn't want to go into the bedroom and wake up hubby. The zucchini caught my eye! I made it work!

Have you exercised today?

Day 2....Walk Away The Pounds

Man do I need to get on a better schedule. I waited until the last minute again tonight to exercise. Tonight since it was really late (10:30 PM) I walked one mile with Leslie Sansone. She is a lot of fun!

I'm on my way to meeting my personal challenge of exercising at least 20 minutes 6 days this week! Cannot wait to lose the next 4.2 pounds so I can get a necklace I've been wanting!

Wish me luck!

Day 1...Hip Hop Abs!

I said in my earlier post today that I was going to exercise 6 times this week! I'm tired of just talking about it! I am up for the challenge. Tonight I pulled out my Hip Hop Abs dvd. I got in a 23 minute workout! It felt great! I will be posting daily about my workout this week to help me stay accountable! I'm ready to sweat!



Are YOU ready?

Just Do It....

Yesterday, I went through some old photos. I love pictures. That is except when it comes to me. My boys have grown and changed so much. Well, so has mom. It really hit me how long I have let myself go. Why have I been obese for so long? It was like...who is this person? Wow, I was really that big back then?? As if I got to 293 pounds over night.

I found one picture when I had lost some weight by going to the 'Diet Center'. I'm not sure where I started around 190 I think?? Anyway, I got down to 175 before a trip to Washington DC. That was in 1993. That was 16 years ago that I was under 200 pounds... On a positive note...I looked pretty good if I may say so. Just realizing I have large bones makes me think I will look good in the 160's. (My original goal was to get down to 145.) What do you think?

Here I am 21 years old....175 pounds!

Why have I waited 16 years? Oh, believe me I have tried! Off and on...I have tried. But even though I have tried I have NEVER lost over 33 pounds. Ever! Plus, any weight I have lost was gained back plus more. It was sad how I saw several different 'before' shots in the pics! I found one when I weighed 293....Oh my...I honestly never realized!!! I didn't own a full length mirror. I had no clue I looked THAT bad!

This time it is going to be different! I have already made several life style changes that I can keep for the rest of my life that are healthy! Why waste another year being obese? Why let another day go by without exercise? I want to live! I want to live life abundantly!!

That brings me to another point....

Well I've made a decision. A big decision. I am going to get the 'band' on.



Okay...no lap band...



Today I simply decided I am going to exercise. It's a choice we get to make every day. I pulled out Leslie Sansone's Walk Away Your Waistline DVD with the band. I bought it last week at a yard sale for $3.00! Anyway...I walked 3 miles. (15 minute miles)...If felt great! She said something in the video that is so true. "You never say after working out...man I wish I hadn't done that. NEVER!" I am thrilled I exercised today. No more thinking about doing it.

As Nike suggests JUST DO IT!

Have a healthy week! Go, get up, turn the computer off, and go exercise! You will not regret it!

Yeah...Exercise can be FUN!

Today, I went to my niece and nephew's birthday party at an old skating rink. I say old because I use to skate there when I was growing up. I haven't skated but one other time for years! (Like 20 or more).

The cool thing about it was it is just like riding a bike. Once you learn you can just get back on it and go. I am not as good as I was back then, but I did it! My shins were screaming with one time around. It did loosen up though.

I loved it! It was so much FUN! I think I might start doing that once a week with my boys! I skated for a solid 45 minutes. Awesome fun exercise! I'm sure I will feel it tomorrow since I haven't been exercising. It's a start. If I get in an exercise slump again I'll have to remember this!

You better believe I am gonna add it to my lonely calendar too. Next month will show an improvement in the area of exercise!! Yes I will!

Oh, I almost forgot...pizza 6 different kinds, chocolate covered strawberries (all time favorite), plain strawberries, nuts, cake, and ice-cream. I had my green smoothie for breakfast. I was pretty hungry, but felt I did pretty good...The one pizza that stood out to me (looked the healthiest...not that pizza is healthy...ha) had a bunch of lettuce and tomatoes on top...taco salad pizza. I choose a small slice and got one small slice of supreme. I did not eat any cake or ice-cream...not one bite. I did allow myself about 5 strawberries. (2 chocolate covered). Of course my water. In the past I would have had 2-4 pieces of pizza, lots of chocolate covered strawberries, cake, and ice-cream and a coke. So, somewhat of a baby step improvement.

I will get there! Come and join me! We can do this!

Get up and Get Moving!

Today is a new day!! I will rejoice and be glad in it!


I feel energized! I'm tired of saying I'm going to exercise and then let every other priority take it's place. Yes, it's best for me to exercise in the morning. If for some reason I don't do it then...I will do it at night! I am going to be exercising every week day for the month of May. M-F I will be working out!! No excuses! I pray I will stay well during this challenge I have set for myself. I want to lose the 20 lbs. I set for the 4Th of July Challenge. I want to get into a habit of exercising! How many times did I exercise since last Wednesday?? None, zero, zip! So, this is the day I am beginning. No tomorrow, no next Monday, no soon....TODAY!!


I added a calender to help show my progress!! I'm ready to roll!


Have a healthy week!

Weigh in Wednesday

I am excited to report this week that I have lost 3.2 pounds!

I am so happy with that. I am also very glad that I have exercised for the past two days. Now when I go to blog or spend too much time on the computer my booty is sore and reminds me to get up and get moving! I have been doing the Biggest Loser workout phase 1. I plan to exercise 5-6 days per week. Right now I am only focusing on going through all three phases and then after that add some weight training in. My goal for the month of April is a big one. I want to lose 20 pounds. I know with God all things are possible. I am ready to be healthy. I am ready to have more energy. I am ready to release any and all strongholds in my life. I am ready to earn my first button from Chubby Chick...next week! I'm ready to be free!