I survived Week 1

and I feel great! The biggest thing I learned this week is that I can do more than I think I can.  This will sound very unlike me, the girl who sits on the couch and watches crappy TV, but I look forward to working out each day.  It makes me feel strong.  Empowered, even.  This is not to say that it is easy because it is not. Half of the time I flail around, trying to keep up with the choreography of the routines.  I blame my absolute lack of rhythm--those few of you who have seen me dance will understand.  I promised myself, however, that I wouldn't feel defeated, I would keep moving--jumping jacks, squats, jogging, whatever--and jump back into the routine when I found myself.  It worked and, slowly, I am catching on.  I actually made it through the whole routine last night.  Go me!!!

I lost 3 more pounds.  You'll notice there is no exclamation point after that one.  I have mixed feelings.  I expected more.  After all, this is the first week that I have consistently exercised.  Before this challenge, I lost the weight by making better food changes.  So, since I was adding exercise, I thought I would have a good loss the first week. On the other hand,  I want to make sure that I am losing in a healthy way because I don't want to just gain it all back.  In the end, I will be happy with my 3 pounds and hope that I can consistently lose 1 or 2 or 3 a week. I would like to lose 13 more pounds by the end of the year so I can start the year 50 pounds lighter.  Perhaps that goals is too ambitious but I will try!

I also discovered this week that I am not a fan of yoga.  One of the Turbo Fire workouts is a 40 minute stretch with lots of yoga poses.  Blah.  Boring.  Maybe as I lose weight and my gut doesn't impede my folding in half and bending, I will enjoy it more :)  Here's to me losing my gut!!!  I hope I don't lose any more boobs, though!

Looking Forward

I made it through the first 2 days of workouts (only 88 more to go!) and since today is a rest day (from Turbo Fire, at least), I thought I'd revisit my reasons for "getting fit" and come up with some shorter term, more specific goals.  

My top three goals for the next three months (in order of importance):

1.  Be able to wear my wedding ring.
It has been few years since I have been able to fit my wedding ring on my short, sausage fingers.  I have, instead, been wearing L's ring since he doesn't wear it.  Most of the time, it slips off my finger and I end up wearing it on my middle finger.  I will be happy to get my ring back on my finger.  Every morning I try it on and it is slowing moving its way farther down my finger!  I think I will reach this goal in the next couple of weeks!!!!

2.  Lower my cholesterol.
Both my "bad" cholesterol and triglycerides have dropped quite a bit since Spring but I want it to go down a bit more.  I also need to raise my "good" cholesterol. This will make my doctor happy.  Maybe she'll even quit telling me I will have to take drugs to lower it.  Hell, maybe she'll even quit thinking of me as a walking time bomb :)

3.  Be the weight it says on my driver's license.
I would love to be the weight it says on my high school license (it is my goal weight, after all).  For now, I will be more realistic and hope for what it says on my current license.  I was a little more honest the last time I had to get a new picture and license:)

I am off to walk up & down the stairs of DH.  Don't look at me strange if you see me walk by a few times...

And the Challenge begins!

I stood on the scale.  I took my measurements.  I planned my meals.  I watched (and tried) a couple of the workouts.  I am ready.

Too many excuses for not getting anything done before:  I could go to the gym, but I won't (the closest gym is twenty minutes away and seems to be populated by local HS students).  I could get on my treadmill, but I haven't (it makes a great clothes rack).  I could go for walks, but it is too cold and gets dark so early (plus we don't have sidewalks out here in these parts).

But my doctor's words ring in my head:  You are a walking time bomb.  She later denied saying this to me, but she did.  Two years ago.  So, I can't wait anymore.  I have an awesome husband and the most wonderful son and I do not want to miss out on anything.  My greatest fear is not seeing N grow up or leaving L to do it all alone.

So, here I go....Tomorrow is Day 1 of my Turbo Fire challenge.  Turbo Fire is made by Beachbody.  Yeah, Beachbody.  It almost makes me laugh, too.  I mean sure, I would love to have a "beachbody," but that isn't my goal--well, maybe it is a little bit. BB also sells P90X.  Yeah, that P90X.  The informercial one.  But I will say that one of the healthiest people I know and trust has been doing P90 for years (and I didn't even know it until I was talking to him about my plans to do TF).  Maybe when I am done with TF, I'll try P90X.  Maybe. Talk to me in 12 weeks.  We'll wait to see how this intense cardio program works.  I hope I don't pull anything or hurt myself, even though I am kind of counting on it.  I don't say this because I am not committed to doing well; I say this because I am the girl who hobbled around for weeks after pulling a muscle bowling.


The next 12 weeks is definitely going to kick my 38%-body-fat ass!  Wish me luck :)

I'll spare you all my starting measurements and photos.  Maybe someday I will be brave enough to reveal all.  Maybe when I reach my goal.  Maybe when I reach the number I never thought I'd go over.  Maybe when I am no longer a walking time bomb.