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.

Rude Awakening

Early this morning I was awakened by the bed shaking. I thought I was losing my mind, dreaming or being attacked by our cat. The bed shook for a while then it was done. It had awakened me enough that I got up to go to the bathroom and noticed the TV on in our boys' room...I went to turn that off...wound up getting our oldest a glass of ice water...then headed back to bed. I had tried to figure out what had happened...thought maybe it was some kind of muscle spasm that my legs were going through because of exercising...something had to make sense. Then when I was talking to my mom I found out about the earthquake. How weird...didn't ever think I'd be awakened by an earthquake without living in California.

Happy Birthday, Noah!

Please Vote

I just heard tonight on the news that We Are Marshall is up for an award from the Tribeca Film Festival for greatest sports movie of all time. It's up against Rudy. Now, Rudy is an OK movie...but We Are Marshall is much better. 'Sides our family isn't in the movie Rudy, but we can be seen in the student chant shot from We Are Marshall. If you'd like to vote go here .

We Are....Marshall.

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...

Gems From My Oldest

Today, as I was taking our oldest to his swimming lessons (there may be another post at a later time on that) he looked at me and said, "Wow, Mom...you've lost a lot of weight...you look thinner."

It mean so much coming from him...I was feeling pretty good as over the past few days I've gotten into clothes that I couldn't wear since I got pregnant with our youngest.

I told him thanks and that I'm going to try to lose even more weight...he goes wow then you'll really be skinny.

What a great kid!

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...

Happy Easter!!

Happy Easter, friends and family. I hope you have a blessed and happy celebration of the resurrection!!

My Meez

You like my new Meez? Not sure I like the background but it's different.

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.

That Kicked My Rear But I'm Going Back

Today I had to go to the Y earlier than my class...but because of that I was able to do something that I've been wanting to do for a while. My aerobics instructor was teaching the arthritis class so I thought I'd be doing my own thing during that time. There is also another water aerobics class at the same time. I've never done this but have thought about it. When I entered the pool area I asked one of the lifeguards if there was class and she said the teacher wasn't there. So, I went to the warm pool and began water jogging and working with weights. Then I heard music next door. My usual aerobics instructor told me to go over and try the class and that Mary would "kill me." OK...I thought I'd try it.

Kim wasn't kidding...we were jogging full force, we were kicking and all sorts of stuff. The class was fun but HARD...we didn't do stomach crunches but we did major cardio. I think I'm going back tomorrow...we'll see. Surely I should lose some weight this week although I have fallen off the wagon twice with some really good foods. So, we'll see.

What Ya Think?

So, I really liked the new Purple Cow look and decided to go onto the website and get a cooler look...it was time for a change. What do you think?

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.