What would you love to look like(body wise)?

I would love to have Britney's body! I need to keep working out and eating right, but even then, I know that's just a dream. I think it's good though to have inspiration pics. Just like when you're decorating a room and you want it to look like an "inspiration room", but still be yours, you should have a "inspiration body". So anyways, that is mine!

Working out is still going great! I think it's really just part of my day now. I've been working out 4-5 days a week for about 45 minutes a time. I'm still eating right. Not diet food, but just eating the right portions of normal food. Whenever I dieted in the past, I was never able to stick with it.

So far, so good! What about you all?

-Kathryn

I did it....

I joined the gym. I worked at a gym all through highschool and some during college, in fact I was a personal trainer. Somehow though I let myself go and gained alot of weight.

I have been putting off joining the gym for so many reasons... I had the Wii Fit, Wii Active, I have a great place to walk by the river, I have pilates and yoga tapes- so no need to join a gym. Well, when it happened to be rainy or cold or too hot, I would just make excuse after excuse. I also think part of putting off the gym membership had been that I was scared- scared people would judge me for being overweight.

But I took the plunge today and did it. There is no better time than to continue on my weightloss journey than now, especially before the holidays.

I walked/jogged on the treadmill for 30 minutes today, did the recumbrant bike for 17 minutes and walked 5 laps around the indoor track. I feel great and feel like I have just made a huge accomplishment.

Jessica (2bemrs.hendrix)

Ok... so not every weekend will be a great one.. health wise.

So, this past week I ate great and exercised Monday through Thursday. Then Friday came (my birthday) and we were supposed to go to Olive Garden for dinner. Well, the husband decided we should go on Saturday instead.. so that really messed me up. I had planned on eating a nice, but not so healthy meal on Friday night and skipping the working out. So, I ate 1/2 of a Subway sub (my lunch leftovers) instead and still skipped the workout. Then Saturday came and I ate a good breakfast, skipped lunch because we were shopping and then ate Olive Garden for dinner. I also did not work out on Saturday. Then of course Sunday I ate my leftovers as well as some not so healthy other foods.... and skipped the work out. But, today is a new day and the start to a new week, so I'm back on the wagon. I ate a good breakfast, packed a healthy lunch and plan to work out tonight.
Sometimes it's hard to eat great all the time, but I think my thinking has changed completely. Instead of the thoughts I used to have like "well, I've blown the diet now", I think "I know I won't stick to my diet every day, but I'll just pick up where I left off and stick with it". So, my lesson of the day is.... Don't give up just because you have a bad meal/ day/ week or whatever, just remember that each day is a new day and you can pick right back up where you left off!

Jeni-sounds like you're doing great! I bet when you start working out more, the weight will really start to fall off since you're eating right! What about the rest of you? How are you guys doing?

Also, remember to sign your posts so we know who you are!

-Kathryn

What a Good Week!

This week my husband has been out of town. This usually means frozen food or Mac & Cheese. But I made it a point to hightail it to the grocery store and pick up some healthy items. I bought low fat yogurt, fruits, veggies and some healthy snacks. I've been making some healthy dinners and eating a good breakfast, rather than my sugar-cereal norm. I feel good. But I am seriously craving some yummy ice cream from Dairy Queen. But I'm practicing my willpower and holding back from temptation. I am resisting!

As for exercise, I'm still working on getting motivated in that department. However, I will hopefully be getting a gym membership next week. Woo Hoo! It's so rainy where I live that it's hard to exercise outside, so a gym membership will be ideal.

I am taking a weight class every Monday and Wednesday mornings. Last week I weighed myself and I had gained a few lbs. and just about keeled over. Luckily my trainer was close by to reassure me that I'm gaining muscle tone and bone density. Yes, I have to keep repeating to myself... muscles and bone density... so I don't totally freak out about the number on the scale! As long as I'm healthy, feel healthy and look good, I guess it really doesn't matter what number the scales says. Right?

~ Jeni

mixing it up

hi, ladies! i'm hjscott, a newbie on the nest, so you probably don't know me yet. i feel like i could have written so many of these posts.

i've been wanting to lose weight to feel good about myself for at least the past two years. it finally clicked about a month ago, after reading practically every diet/nutrition book ever written, that in order to see results, i need to take some action. i think i was relying on osmosis before that. :)

in the past i've tended to "punish" myself with food, like "if i eat a brownie, then i must run an extra mile" or signing up to train for a half marathon to get myself in shape. all i ended up doing was burning myself out from activities i loved and making eating un-enjoyable.

i've decided that the best way for me to stick with an exercise program is to mix things up with a variety of activities i enjoy. i printed off a calendar and selected days for dancing, running, pilates, and strength training - plus one day to rest. so far this has been working. (although it's only been 2 weeks. :) ) i really do think this will help me avoid "burning out" with too much, too fast.

i haven't started counting calories yet, but i have been reading labels and watching portion sizes. i'm starting slow, with a goal to lose one lb last week (met-yay!) and two lbs this week. until this stops working or i hit a plateau, i want to avoid tracking too much. it's just not enjoyable for me. but, it's nice to have it in my 'tool box' if i need it.

i'm really excited to have a group of girls to help me stay accountable!

Hi Ladies!

When I got engaged in January of 2007 the first, well maybe second thing I thought about was fitting into a wedding dress. For the next year and a half I stressed myself out so much that I ended up gaining 15 lbs. I'll never be happy with the way I looked on my wedding day. By the time we hit our first anniversary I weighed my heaviest yet and was up a total of 52 lbs! Since the spring I've lost 17lbs but have not been truly dedicated.

I've never been overweight, or according to my BMI obese, before. In high school and I was an athlete and never had to think about weight. While I still don't think I'm a "big" girl I know I need to lose the weight and get healthy. DH and I want to start TTC in the next 6 months or so and I need to be at a healthier place to even think about carrying a baby. Last year I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. While it should have been a wake-up call I haven't taken it as seriously as I should have.

In the past month DH and I have joined a new gym (that offers classes, so I won't get bored) and signed up for a weight loss competition. I think it's finally helping us change our lifestyles and start losing the weight. I think this blog will be a great way to share our progress and stay motivated. Thanks for letting me tell my story, it's good to admit to it.

Jan (futuremrso')

Are you sticking with it?

For about the past month, I've actually stuck with this diet and exercise plan. This past weekend, I did treat myself to a not so healthy meal at Cheesecake Factory, but it was an early birthday meal w/ my family, so I'd say it's allowed! I've been eating three healthy meals a day and if I feel the need to snack, I'll grab a couple of spoonfulls of ff cottage cheese, an apple or a yogurt.

Working out has been great too! I've never been much of a runner, but it's getting so much easier. If I know I'm going to do the wii active, I run for about 4-5 songs on my ipod.... so somewhere around 15 minutes. If not, then I'll run/ jog for about 7 songs. Then I do 50 regular sit ups and 50 side to side.

I now truly believe that you have to be ready to get in shape. For about a year, I've been wanting to, but just last month it finally clicked. I don't even remember what I was doing, but I just realized that eating fatty food isn't worth not being happy with myself. There are plenty of healthy meals that taste great. Also, working out for 30-45 minutes a day 5 times a week isn't that much. It just finally clicked, and I'm so glad!

A lady at work asked if I'd lost weight and my husband has also said that he thinks I'm losing weight (and believe me, he wouldn't say it if he didn't mean it), so what I'm doing is definately working!

So, for me it's been right around a month that I've been with this! How are you all doing at sticking with it?

-Kathryn (daisymaybride77)