Not First, but Not Bad

Well, the results were posted today. For a while I'd been running 9th in our Biggest Loser contest. When things were all said and done, I wound up finishing in 8th place. Today I finally broke through my plateau...I lost another pound.

I went back to my deep water aerobics class...aka swimming with the sadist. She really worked us today...laps running in the pool, laps running and pushing barbells up and down, kicking only, arms only back and forth, back and forth, then pull ups on the diving platform. Just thinking about it wears me out. Hopefully this change in exercise will help me to continue to break through this ceiling.

Six weeks til our trip to Florida...I want to lose at least 10 more pounds by then if possible.

The Results Are In...

Week 13

Well, the contest is over but I'm still trying to keep on with the weight loss plan. It appears that this week my body has once again decided to rebell...my weight continues to be the same, 'course now I'm more on track for where SparkPeople says I should be. I'm still losing inches but the weight is the same. I've been excited that I'm fitting into my old clothes...it's like a new wardrobe.

Before and After

Well, since Marko posted his before and after pics, I thought (with much humiliation of the before pic) to post mine. The before is to the left/top and after to the right. Not too bad I guess...only 30 more pounds to go.

What a Difference 12 Weeks Make

As you know, over the past 12 weeks I have participated in the Are You a Bigger Loser Than Marko? Contest. Marko is the president of Youth Specialties and after the first of the year he decided that he wanted to lose some weight but that it'd work better if he was joined by friends. Something like 164 of us joined him. I started watching my diet and working out again. It paid off (until these past 2 weeks when I've hit a plateau). Over the past 12 weeks I've lost 20 pounds. I'm fitting in clothes that I haven't fit in since before I got pregnant with our youngest. I feel better. But I'm not done yet. According to SparkPeople if I continue my work I can be down to my ideal weight by the end of the summer. Wow. How cool is that?

Last Few Days

Well, we are in the twelfth week of Are You a Bigger Loser Than Marko. Friday is our last weigh in and the winners will be announced next Monday. Last week I didn't feel so great so I allowed myself to eat a few more comfort foods...and I didn't mix up my exercise as much as usual. I didn't lose but I didn't gain either. This week I'm going to mix up the workouts and eat better. We'll see where I wind up. I only have about 30 more pounds or so to reach my target weight...almost 1/2 way there. I didn't think it'd ever happen.

Happiness Is...

getting into my old jeans. I haven't been able to fit into these Gap jeans for I don't know how long...at one time I couldn't even think of wearing them....then after I stared working out I could put them on but not button or zip them...now they fit buttoned, zipped and all. YIPPEE! It's paying off. Only 4 more weeks of Biggest Loser...but the weight loss will continue
..through the summer and beyond. The past two weeks I've made top ten...will it be 3? Don't know...

FINALLY!

I finally made it into the top 10 of the Biggest Loser. They finally listed everyone, but I counted and there I was. Finally this working out and watching what I'm eating is paying off. And, the best part is I feel GREAT! I think I've walked about 10 miles in the past 2 weeks or so and have done water aerobics at least 3 days a week.

Even my aerobics instructor today said that she could tell how much weight I've lost...

Not So Mad Today

OK, yesterday I was pretty ticked because of what the scale said...but today when I measured myself (I didn't get to do that last night as usual) I found out that what my former aerobics instructor had said...don't go by the scale, go by the way your clothes fit or the way you measure...how smaller your waist is getting. Today I got out the tape measure and looked at what the other numbers said. Well, I've lost like 3 inches off of my waist and almost 3 off of my hips. I'm gradually getting smaller.

Today I went back to the Y for early water aerobics. Tuesdays should be known as swimming with the sadist because it almost killed me. It's deep water aerobics and boy was it interesting and DIFFICULT. We began with these floaty belts around our waist...I thought ok cool...we'll probably tread water and stuff. NO...we started by running from one side of the pool to the other...when you ran out of floor you kept on running...next we did cross country skiing...same thing...we followed that with getting these foam ended barbells and pushed them up and down while we ran down and back...we did a back float kick thing next with the barbell across our chest as we lay on our backs...then it was "sit in a chair" and use only your arms down and back...and now go backwards doing the same thing. Finally as I'm getting more and more tired, we had to swim laps...with these float things holding us back...as fast as we can. I thought I was going to die. I haven't swam laps since I was in college and needless to say I was in so much better shape then.

Maybe I'll go back next week...boy, that was a workout.

OK, Now I'm Mad

This week was dismal as far as weightloss goes. Last week I hit my second goal weight, having lost weight consistently over the last five weeks until this week. Today I weighed myself...no weight loss. I'm mad. I've been working out 5 - 6 days a week...and this week I stepped it up a notch by taking the killer water aerobics class. Maybe I'm gaining muscle which will mean more weight loss but that makes me mad. I knew I'd do this sometime but was hoping it wouldn't happen.

I was a little frustrated at having consistent weightloss and never making it into the top 10...but grrrrr.

I'm going to continue counting calories, watching what I meet and working out, but just know I'm frustrated.

Perhaps I should try Charlene's approach above.

Week Four of the Biggest Loser

Well, we've just finished week four and I'm happy to say I continue to lose weight. Now, I've not lost an exorbitant amount of weight...but I've lost 5% of my body weight thus far. I hope to continue losing weight throughout the entire contest.

Then hopefully by the end of the summer I'll be down to my right weight. We'll see.

Three Weeks and Half a Ton Down

Well, we've finished three weeks of Are You a Bigger Loser Than Marko. Can you believe that the group of 176 (I think that's right) has lost over 1100 pounds? I think that's great. If nothing else we have been motivated to make lifestyle changes that hopefully will stick through the rest of our lives.

So far I have lost 9.3 pounds...I have met my first goal and am on my way to my next goal...provided I don't plateau this next week. I went to aerobics again today...feeling a little rough I think my body's trying to get a cold...so not sure what this week will look like. But I am hoping to keep on keeping on.

Wii Fit

On the Are You a Bigger Loser Than Marko site, Marko posted a comment that there is a new Wii game coming out May 19th. It's called Wii Fit and looks really cool! You can do yoga, practice your balance, do aerobics, play a thing that looks kinda like DDR and other activities to help keep you fit. It'll even track your progress.

I'm wanting it now...what a great addition or alternative to going to the Y!!

If you want to see a video of what all it does, go here.

HT Marko.

Week Two - Getting Smaller

I weighed myself today and was pleasantly surprised...I had lost weight. I was so excited. I'm down 4% of my weigh right now. Not too shabby considering I hadn't really worked out this week. I didn't get into the top 10 but wound up submitting my weight a little late...so I don't know if I was left out or not. I was upset a tad because I'm working out and really trying...I mean, come on. But at least it's weight and I'm getting more in shape and healthier. If this keeps up, I could be down to my ideal weight by our youngest's second birthday. How cool is that?!

Maybe I should try the method suggested here.

Snow Day!! Wierd Exercising Continues

Today we woke up to snow and ice...needless to say school was canceled. I don't like the windy usually extremely slick road to take our youngest to childcare, so I worked at home with both of them. Trying to continue losing weight in this Biggest Loser contest, I have been seeking to find alternatives to the Y when I can't make it there. Today we marched around the living room for about 10 minutes...something my youngest thought was great fun. Then later in the afternoon I did aerobics with Bodies in Motion on Fit TV.

According the my spark website, I burnt over 300 calories today. I just hope it's enough. These past two days have killed me as far as cardio exercises go. Tomorrow I'm hoping to go to water aerobics.

Saturday I have an all day meeting so I'm not sure when I'm going to exercise then. Although I did save the Bodies in Motion show on our DVR. We'll see.

First Weigh In...Losing Weight...YEA!!

Today was our first weigh in...I went to the Y every day last week. I worked out in the exercise room twice and did water aerobics three days. There were times when I tried to find excuses not to go...but now that I've seen results, I'm excited and motivated. I've done the diet as recommended on sparkpeople.com and it's working. I had hoped for some weight but didn't expect as much as I got. And, I've lost some on my waist too! My first mini-goal is in sight...I'm excited!

Week One and Not Too Bad

This is the first official week of Are You A Bigger Loser Than Marko? I have done cardio exercises five days this week...twice in the exercise room and three times at water aerobics. I have used the website sparkpeople.com to track calories burnt, calories taken in and other such things (a site which I highly recommend if you're looking to track that stuff).

I have started eating breakfast again...something that I haven't done since I was pregnant with our youngest. Not too bad...especially if it makes me healthier.

I've been drinking less sweet tea (that's been a little harder) and more water...and eating more healthy snacks.

Today I only did strengthening exercises and the hula exercise...I found out in aerobics this week that if you do the "hula" for a minute one way then for a minute the other way, it'll take an inch off of your waist in a few weeks.

When I weighed myself today, I saw results...we'll see how this continues.

Biggest Loser, Day 1 - Temptations All Around

Today officially began the YS Biggest Loser competition. As I was getting up this morning I began to struggle with the idea of going to work out. So many excuses came to mind of why I shouldn't go, but I packed up my gym bag anyway so I'd be ready. Even when I got to work I was still making up in my mind reasons why I shouldn't go, but will power prevailed and I went to my water aerobics class.

When I got to work today one of our preschool teachers had a little container of these candy/cookie things she makes out of Oreos. They are so good. She had three of them...one for me, and two for two others. I did give in to that little taste of chocolate and mint (but it was after I had gone to the Y and worked out for an hour).

The third temptation came when I got home and it was that lull time between dinner and bed time. I was bored, so I tried to find something to eat. With all of the left over Super Bowl treats we had gotten that's not a good thing. A piece of cake that our oldest had picked out was taunting me...but when I looked at the label and saw the abundance of calories in just a little piece of it, I thought OK on to something else. I looked at the Poptarts...still too many calories. So I opted for raisins...a small box which I shared with our youngest.

This is going to be a LONG twelve weeks.

Biggest Loser, Marko Style

Tomorrow begins the contest by Youth Specialties, "Are You a Bigger Loser than Marko?" I have entered into this contest with the hope that I will lose weight and get in shape. Last week I tried to enter into the exercise stuff full force going to the Y three times. That's the most consistent I've been in a LONG time. We'll see how this week works out with Ash Wednesday and all.

Wish me luck!

Why Is She Like That?

As I've written before, I've been watching The Biggest Loser. I definitely have my favorite trainers. In prior seasons I was really fond of Bob...he's so supportive and kind in the way he helps his team lose weight.

Jillian was not one of my favorites because I always thought she was mean. But, when I saw a lot of my water aerobics instructor in Jillian, I gained a lot of respect for Jillian...I saw in her "meanness" a caring...when I found out one season that she had struggled with her own weight, I became even more fond of her.

Last season, Jillian was gone...and replaced by Kim. I don't know if it's her Barbie doll appearance or what, I just don't think she's that great of a trainer. I was watching the show and thought...what is her deal?! Then last night Kim tried to influence the vote of her team by encouraging them to vote their only woman off. I don't understand what's up with Kim...I don't really get her workout techniques...nor do I think she is that greatly supportive of her team.

If push came to shove, I'd love to have a trainer again like Jillian...when I was working out with Mary's direction (my aerobics instructor) I lost more weight and inches than I did when I was walking 3 miles and riding the bike 5 miles three times a week. Mary coached you in ways that were tough yet caring...yeah, that's what I'd like. Maybe the trainers should be voted off....