OK... this nutrition thing is really annoying. I mean 1 item at Moe's has 1/2 the daily allowance for sodium!!!!!! I really shouldn't be eating out but I haven't been to the grocery yet. I am trying to be easy on myself because at least I AM looking at what I am eating. Before I would go to eat and not care. But I compared Moe's with Taco Bell and Moe's is fresher, no trans fat and less saturated fat than Taco Bell. I got the junior size instead of the regular size. So - I feel I am eating healthier than I WAS... but not as healthy as I COULD- if that makes any sense.
I had a peanut butter sandwich this morning which consisted of 2 slices of Natures Own Double the Fiber Whole Grain bread and 1 tablespoon of peanut butter. Bread had 100 calories, 1 gram of fat (0 saturated; 0 trans- all fat grams from good fats), 270 mg soduim, 26 carbs of net 10 grams of dietary fiber (4 soluble; 6 insoluble), less than 1 g of sugar and 6 g of protein. Peanut Butter had- 95 calories, 8 grams of fat (1.5 grams saturated and 0 trans), 75 g of sodium, 3.5 g of carbs net of 1 g of fiber and 1.5 g sugar, and 3.5 g of protein.
I am having a Joey Junior Burrito consisting of Grilled Chicken, Pinto Beans, Rice, Cheese, Lettuce and Pico de Gallo. It has 403 Calories, 14 grams of fat (no trans fats and only 5.3g of Saturated fat- the rest are the good fats your body needs- this is compared with 8 grams of saturated fat and .5 grams of trans fat at Taco Bell), 1200 mg of SODIUM!!!!!, 48 carbs - (6 of net fiber and only 3 g of sugar from carb), 22 g of Protein and various vitamins and minerals that they listed on their nutritional fact sheet.
Write more later.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Mid-Term Grade :-)
Hey guys,
Got my midterm grade back and thought I would share. Apparently I am doing SOMETHING right.. LOL! The grade is at the bottom if you dont want to read my ramblings. :-) Love you guys.
Leadership Self-Reflection
Christy Ward
Ward, Christy L
2/15/2009
Abstract: This purpose of this paper is to identify my personal strengths and areas for growth or study. I will be using the Keirsey Style Sorter (David Keirsey, Marilyn Bates- Please Understand Me) and two self-assessment tools taken from a Leadership textbook (Lusseir/Achua- Leadership: Theory, Application & Skill Development). In order to understand where the information of my strengths and growth areas originated I will first explain my personality type, according to the Keirsey Style Sorter, and the results of the two self assessments taken from the textbook. I will then identify personal strengths and growth areas. After these have been identified I will then give examples of how these strengths and growth areas help me achieve or hinder my work in my current job. Finally, I will explain the benefits of understanding other personality styles and how understanding these styles would help in a leadership role.
What does that mean?
ENFP! According to the Keirsey Style Sorter by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates that is my personality type. I scored the same on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test that I took three years ago. In order to understand my strengths and growth areas and from where I received such data you must first understand what the letters ENFP are and why they are indicators that lead to strengths and growth areas. In this section I will explain what they mean and identify general strengths and growth areas for persons of similar styles. I will then focus my attention to my leadership style and my normative leadership style. The results of these two self-assessments will come from Lusseir/Achua Leadership text. Finally, I will combine the measurements and form personal strengths and growth areas about myself.
The Keirsey Style Sorter is very similar to the Myers-Briggs but a much shorter version. The results were the same for both assessments. As stated my results indicated that I am an ENFP. Keirsey/Bates explains that there are four pairs of preferences (what I described as letters). They are E- Extraversion and I- Introversion, S-Sensation and N-Intuition, F-Feeling and T-Thinking, and finally P-Perceiving and J-Judging. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984)
Given the meaning of the letters we can see that my preferences are toward E which means extraversion, N which means intuition, F which means feeling and P which means perceiving. There are cases, which I will not go into detail about, where the subject indicates no clear preference to either indicator. In this situation Keirsey/Bates afford them an X in place of the letter which indicates that the subject could use either preference given the situation. I had no such indication as mine were clearly one way or the other.
According to Keirsey/Bates extraverts need sociability and introverts are territorial. Thus extraverts are pumped up when they are around people and get lonely when they are not. Conversely, introverts may want or not care to be around people but it drains them. They need their space and alone time. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) The E fits me well. I thrive on being around people. I can not be alone for long before I feel lost and alone. This does not mean that I am never comfortable being alone. There are times when it is quite acceptable for me to be alone. Some of those times are when I need to reflect or when I am cleaning. The latter may sound funny, but given that I am sociable, if someone was with me during that time I would be socializing not cleaning.
When studying the N and S of the equation I found that I show the same preference as only 25 percent of the population. Keirsey and Bates state that seventy-five percent of the general population prefers sensation. The S person is fact driven and practical where the N person is driven by “metaphor and imagery”. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) This also describes me. I feel restrained and bogged down when given a bunch of facts. I look more toward what could be than what is the actual. This, as I will explain later, can be taxing for the sensible who deals with facts. Most of the time I have a hard time with seeing things black or white- I am forever seeing everything else- the “gray” areas.
“More women than men (6 out of 10) report that they prefer deciding on the basis of personal impact {F}… more men than women (6 out of 10) report that they prefer to make decision on the basis of principles, that is, logically and objectively {T}”. Keirsey/Bates state that this is really not a good indicator of what the preference is going to be, however, it is the only one of the preferences that shows a gender difference. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) I found this section to be curiously interesting! Stereotypically women ARE more feeling oriented than men. However, that trend is changing and we can see this by Keirsey/Bates statistical information. I can safely say that I definitely fit the F profile. My decisions are emotionally and not logically driven most of the time which would also compliment my intuitive side.
As I stated above, I would prefer to look at what could be instead of what is, which is somewhat explained my preference to the perceiving type. If I had the J or judging preference I would want things settled. However, having the perceiving preference I like to leave my options open because what “could be”. Keirsy/Bates state that Js will set deadlines and keep them/take them seriously but Ps don’t put much value in a deadline. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) I am a procrastinator; in fact, I feel that I am the definition of said person. This particular preference causes me great stress at times and I feel uncomfortable with setting exact times. I find myself telling people with whom I am setting a date/time with to be there on the “ish” (i.e. let’s make it around 11:30 ish- which could be 11:35 or 11:59 – but as my friends know- rarely 11:30).
Of ENFPs: “Nothing occurs which does not have some significance… sees life as an exciting drama… found in only about 5 percent of the general population, but they have great influence because of their extraordinary impact on others… hard on themselves… considers intense emotional experiences vital… possess a wide range and variety of feelings and afraid of losing touch with them… brilliantly perceptive but makes serious mistakes in judgment … optimistic… people to people work is essential… have difficulty working within the constraints of an institution especially following rules, regulations and SOPs…”. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) When we put all the preferences together the above are some of the things that Keirsey/Bates relay about our type. I do, but not all of me, fit within my type’s preferences. I do see life as an adventure and things happen for a reason- the reason of which I am constantly wondering about. My feelings about rules and regulations are true to form. I feel that they are for situations that fit neatly into a little box with no variance. This of course, is impractical and never happens. I also see the importance of rules and regulations – a necessary evil if you will. As a supervisor, manager and/or leader I may be more likely to enforce rules and regulations depending upon the situation. This could be a growth opportunity. Inconsistency in this area would lower morale and reduce productivity. This will be discussed later in the paper.
As we move into leadership style as measured by Lussier/Achua in the textbook I will note how my personal preferences connect with my leadership style. I see a direct correlation between the two. In chapter 3 of our text, self-assessment 1, I determined that my leadership style was a high people leadership style (10/10) and a medium task leadership style (6/10). Because of my ENFP preferences, as noted above, people to people work is essential for me. People are my main priority when leading; however, I realize that tasks need to be accomplished in any organization.
My preferred normative leadership style is facilitating. Lussier/Achua state that Facilitate Leadership Style is:
“…includes having a group meeting to get input from members as you attempt to support the group to agree on a decision within boundaries set by you; in other words, you still have the final say on the decision. As a facilitator, you are supportive and encouraging to the group members to both make the decision and implement the decision.” (Lussier/Achua, 2007)
I feel this also feeds back to my preference to work with people. I also have a strong drive to find out what could be and what better way to find that out then from other people’s ideas and perceptions?
Strengths
One of my strengths is working with people. As a leader I want to accomplish tasks through others. I will find this easier because of my strength of working with people. My leadership style and normative leadership style reflect this strength. I am people oriented while maintaining knowledge that tasks need to be accomplished. I run meetings in a facilitative manner including everyone involved in the process. In doing so I get the best of everyone’s knowledge and perceptions while making them feel included in the process and part of the change. At the present my job is not related to a leadership position. I work in a small office with three other women. It is important for me to be able to communicate and work with them. I have struggled in the past with some of the employees because of my laid back personality. Eventually, through persistence, I helped foster a relationship with each of them.
The second strength I wish to highlight is my “talent for seeing life as an exciting drama, pregnant with possibilities…” (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) As a leader I need to have my eye to the future. This brings about innovation and change. I, in my current job, have initiated many changes. This has been part of the struggle aforementioned. Because of my ability working with people I was able to help others through the changes. It was not without their help that the full change was founded. I may have “dreamed” up an idea but others added to and helped with that idea.
Growth Opportunities
As stated above: “As a supervisor, manager and/or leader I may be more likely to enforce rules and regulations depending upon the situation”. This is indeed a growth area. I find it hard not to see both sides (and everything in between) to every story. Where this may appear to be a strength, and in many situations it would be, it can also lead to confusion of followers. Inconsistencies of how I deal with my team regarding rules and regulations may lead to views of favoritism. It could also confuse my team and they would not know what “version” of the rule to follow. For people with preferences to “knowing a rule and following it exactly” this would be a cause for great distress. Productivity and morale would suffer in this type of environment. If I were in a leadership position I may bring everyone together to discuss the rules and regulations. If we come up with the rules together everyone, including me, would agree that they were important and needed to be followed. My current job, much to my benefit, has a flexible working environment and we have unspoken rules that we follow. These rules have more to do with respect for the boss than an SOP. For example, I don’t leave work without telling my boss where I am going. This is not because the rule says I will get fired if I do not. I do it because I respect my boss. For now, as a follower, I need to understand the rules were made to protect the company as well as the employee.
Another opportunity for growth lies in the “P”. My perceiving nature leads me to be a procrastinator. I am more comfortable with open ended opportunities. Deadlines have the ability to cause a great deal of stress for me. However, I realize that if I did not have them I would never get a project completed. As a leader it would be vital that I complete items on time so that my followers would have the information they needed to complete their jobs. I lead by example. If I am always late I can’t expect my employees to be on time. I can grow in this area by setting an action plans to follow. Peter Drucker in his book The Effective Executive points out that “time is an executive’s scarcest and most precious resource … the action plan will prove useless unless it’s allowed to determine how the executive spends his or her time”. (Drucker, 2006) The action plan will act as a time management plan and therefore squash procrastination tendencies. It is also flexible enough to allow for new opportunities and this is very comfortable to me. Drucker states that an action plan must not “become a straight jacket” but should “be revised often to create new opportunities”. (Drucker, 2006)
Why is important to understand others preferences/personality tendencies?
As a leader I should understand my individual team member’s individual styles. Everyone is unique and they are motivated by different things. If I don’t understand what motivates them I can’t get them to be productive. I have a recent example of the importance of understanding individual styles. I am a life coach for someone in another state. This person recently had weight loss surgery and was overwhelmed and confused by food choices. I suggested that she go online to look up the food pyramid. To me, this would be an endless supply of information and opportunity. To her it was ok I see the food pyramid- so what. Her preference is to be directed to particular groups of information contained within certain limitations. To her it is easier for me to say look at the food pyramid and tell me how much whole grains you are supposed to have in a day. If this had been in an organization and she was one of my followers it would be beneficial for me to know this about her. I would know when and where to utilize her talents. She would be very task oriented completing a specific task within the boundaries and specifications I gave her without supervision. However, she may not do as well if I asked her to create an idea for future growth.
Conclusion
I have done much work to understand myself in the last three or four years and I have grown considerably. I have found that I have a lot more growing to do. However, this fits well into my preferences too- forever looking toward what could be!
Bibliography
Achua, R. N. (2007). Leadership: Theory, Application, Skill Development, 3e. Mason: South-Western Cengage Learning.
Drucker, P. (2006). The Effective Executive. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
Keirsey, D., & Bates, M. (1984). Please Understand Me. Gnosology Books Ltd.
Christy,
This is an excellent, well-written reflection. I hope the materials continue to give you tools for present and future leadership successes.
Score: 100
Got my midterm grade back and thought I would share. Apparently I am doing SOMETHING right.. LOL! The grade is at the bottom if you dont want to read my ramblings. :-) Love you guys.
Leadership Self-Reflection
Christy Ward
Ward, Christy L
2/15/2009
Abstract: This purpose of this paper is to identify my personal strengths and areas for growth or study. I will be using the Keirsey Style Sorter (David Keirsey, Marilyn Bates- Please Understand Me) and two self-assessment tools taken from a Leadership textbook (Lusseir/Achua- Leadership: Theory, Application & Skill Development). In order to understand where the information of my strengths and growth areas originated I will first explain my personality type, according to the Keirsey Style Sorter, and the results of the two self assessments taken from the textbook. I will then identify personal strengths and growth areas. After these have been identified I will then give examples of how these strengths and growth areas help me achieve or hinder my work in my current job. Finally, I will explain the benefits of understanding other personality styles and how understanding these styles would help in a leadership role.
What does that mean?
ENFP! According to the Keirsey Style Sorter by David Keirsey and Marilyn Bates that is my personality type. I scored the same on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator test that I took three years ago. In order to understand my strengths and growth areas and from where I received such data you must first understand what the letters ENFP are and why they are indicators that lead to strengths and growth areas. In this section I will explain what they mean and identify general strengths and growth areas for persons of similar styles. I will then focus my attention to my leadership style and my normative leadership style. The results of these two self-assessments will come from Lusseir/Achua Leadership text. Finally, I will combine the measurements and form personal strengths and growth areas about myself.
The Keirsey Style Sorter is very similar to the Myers-Briggs but a much shorter version. The results were the same for both assessments. As stated my results indicated that I am an ENFP. Keirsey/Bates explains that there are four pairs of preferences (what I described as letters). They are E- Extraversion and I- Introversion, S-Sensation and N-Intuition, F-Feeling and T-Thinking, and finally P-Perceiving and J-Judging. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984)
Given the meaning of the letters we can see that my preferences are toward E which means extraversion, N which means intuition, F which means feeling and P which means perceiving. There are cases, which I will not go into detail about, where the subject indicates no clear preference to either indicator. In this situation Keirsey/Bates afford them an X in place of the letter which indicates that the subject could use either preference given the situation. I had no such indication as mine were clearly one way or the other.
According to Keirsey/Bates extraverts need sociability and introverts are territorial. Thus extraverts are pumped up when they are around people and get lonely when they are not. Conversely, introverts may want or not care to be around people but it drains them. They need their space and alone time. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) The E fits me well. I thrive on being around people. I can not be alone for long before I feel lost and alone. This does not mean that I am never comfortable being alone. There are times when it is quite acceptable for me to be alone. Some of those times are when I need to reflect or when I am cleaning. The latter may sound funny, but given that I am sociable, if someone was with me during that time I would be socializing not cleaning.
When studying the N and S of the equation I found that I show the same preference as only 25 percent of the population. Keirsey and Bates state that seventy-five percent of the general population prefers sensation. The S person is fact driven and practical where the N person is driven by “metaphor and imagery”. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) This also describes me. I feel restrained and bogged down when given a bunch of facts. I look more toward what could be than what is the actual. This, as I will explain later, can be taxing for the sensible who deals with facts. Most of the time I have a hard time with seeing things black or white- I am forever seeing everything else- the “gray” areas.
“More women than men (6 out of 10) report that they prefer deciding on the basis of personal impact {F}… more men than women (6 out of 10) report that they prefer to make decision on the basis of principles, that is, logically and objectively {T}”. Keirsey/Bates state that this is really not a good indicator of what the preference is going to be, however, it is the only one of the preferences that shows a gender difference. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) I found this section to be curiously interesting! Stereotypically women ARE more feeling oriented than men. However, that trend is changing and we can see this by Keirsey/Bates statistical information. I can safely say that I definitely fit the F profile. My decisions are emotionally and not logically driven most of the time which would also compliment my intuitive side.
As I stated above, I would prefer to look at what could be instead of what is, which is somewhat explained my preference to the perceiving type. If I had the J or judging preference I would want things settled. However, having the perceiving preference I like to leave my options open because what “could be”. Keirsy/Bates state that Js will set deadlines and keep them/take them seriously but Ps don’t put much value in a deadline. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) I am a procrastinator; in fact, I feel that I am the definition of said person. This particular preference causes me great stress at times and I feel uncomfortable with setting exact times. I find myself telling people with whom I am setting a date/time with to be there on the “ish” (i.e. let’s make it around 11:30 ish- which could be 11:35 or 11:59 – but as my friends know- rarely 11:30).
Of ENFPs: “Nothing occurs which does not have some significance… sees life as an exciting drama… found in only about 5 percent of the general population, but they have great influence because of their extraordinary impact on others… hard on themselves… considers intense emotional experiences vital… possess a wide range and variety of feelings and afraid of losing touch with them… brilliantly perceptive but makes serious mistakes in judgment … optimistic… people to people work is essential… have difficulty working within the constraints of an institution especially following rules, regulations and SOPs…”. (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) When we put all the preferences together the above are some of the things that Keirsey/Bates relay about our type. I do, but not all of me, fit within my type’s preferences. I do see life as an adventure and things happen for a reason- the reason of which I am constantly wondering about. My feelings about rules and regulations are true to form. I feel that they are for situations that fit neatly into a little box with no variance. This of course, is impractical and never happens. I also see the importance of rules and regulations – a necessary evil if you will. As a supervisor, manager and/or leader I may be more likely to enforce rules and regulations depending upon the situation. This could be a growth opportunity. Inconsistency in this area would lower morale and reduce productivity. This will be discussed later in the paper.
As we move into leadership style as measured by Lussier/Achua in the textbook I will note how my personal preferences connect with my leadership style. I see a direct correlation between the two. In chapter 3 of our text, self-assessment 1, I determined that my leadership style was a high people leadership style (10/10) and a medium task leadership style (6/10). Because of my ENFP preferences, as noted above, people to people work is essential for me. People are my main priority when leading; however, I realize that tasks need to be accomplished in any organization.
My preferred normative leadership style is facilitating. Lussier/Achua state that Facilitate Leadership Style is:
“…includes having a group meeting to get input from members as you attempt to support the group to agree on a decision within boundaries set by you; in other words, you still have the final say on the decision. As a facilitator, you are supportive and encouraging to the group members to both make the decision and implement the decision.” (Lussier/Achua, 2007)
I feel this also feeds back to my preference to work with people. I also have a strong drive to find out what could be and what better way to find that out then from other people’s ideas and perceptions?
Strengths
One of my strengths is working with people. As a leader I want to accomplish tasks through others. I will find this easier because of my strength of working with people. My leadership style and normative leadership style reflect this strength. I am people oriented while maintaining knowledge that tasks need to be accomplished. I run meetings in a facilitative manner including everyone involved in the process. In doing so I get the best of everyone’s knowledge and perceptions while making them feel included in the process and part of the change. At the present my job is not related to a leadership position. I work in a small office with three other women. It is important for me to be able to communicate and work with them. I have struggled in the past with some of the employees because of my laid back personality. Eventually, through persistence, I helped foster a relationship with each of them.
The second strength I wish to highlight is my “talent for seeing life as an exciting drama, pregnant with possibilities…” (Keirsey/Bates, 1984) As a leader I need to have my eye to the future. This brings about innovation and change. I, in my current job, have initiated many changes. This has been part of the struggle aforementioned. Because of my ability working with people I was able to help others through the changes. It was not without their help that the full change was founded. I may have “dreamed” up an idea but others added to and helped with that idea.
Growth Opportunities
As stated above: “As a supervisor, manager and/or leader I may be more likely to enforce rules and regulations depending upon the situation”. This is indeed a growth area. I find it hard not to see both sides (and everything in between) to every story. Where this may appear to be a strength, and in many situations it would be, it can also lead to confusion of followers. Inconsistencies of how I deal with my team regarding rules and regulations may lead to views of favoritism. It could also confuse my team and they would not know what “version” of the rule to follow. For people with preferences to “knowing a rule and following it exactly” this would be a cause for great distress. Productivity and morale would suffer in this type of environment. If I were in a leadership position I may bring everyone together to discuss the rules and regulations. If we come up with the rules together everyone, including me, would agree that they were important and needed to be followed. My current job, much to my benefit, has a flexible working environment and we have unspoken rules that we follow. These rules have more to do with respect for the boss than an SOP. For example, I don’t leave work without telling my boss where I am going. This is not because the rule says I will get fired if I do not. I do it because I respect my boss. For now, as a follower, I need to understand the rules were made to protect the company as well as the employee.
Another opportunity for growth lies in the “P”. My perceiving nature leads me to be a procrastinator. I am more comfortable with open ended opportunities. Deadlines have the ability to cause a great deal of stress for me. However, I realize that if I did not have them I would never get a project completed. As a leader it would be vital that I complete items on time so that my followers would have the information they needed to complete their jobs. I lead by example. If I am always late I can’t expect my employees to be on time. I can grow in this area by setting an action plans to follow. Peter Drucker in his book The Effective Executive points out that “time is an executive’s scarcest and most precious resource … the action plan will prove useless unless it’s allowed to determine how the executive spends his or her time”. (Drucker, 2006) The action plan will act as a time management plan and therefore squash procrastination tendencies. It is also flexible enough to allow for new opportunities and this is very comfortable to me. Drucker states that an action plan must not “become a straight jacket” but should “be revised often to create new opportunities”. (Drucker, 2006)
Why is important to understand others preferences/personality tendencies?
As a leader I should understand my individual team member’s individual styles. Everyone is unique and they are motivated by different things. If I don’t understand what motivates them I can’t get them to be productive. I have a recent example of the importance of understanding individual styles. I am a life coach for someone in another state. This person recently had weight loss surgery and was overwhelmed and confused by food choices. I suggested that she go online to look up the food pyramid. To me, this would be an endless supply of information and opportunity. To her it was ok I see the food pyramid- so what. Her preference is to be directed to particular groups of information contained within certain limitations. To her it is easier for me to say look at the food pyramid and tell me how much whole grains you are supposed to have in a day. If this had been in an organization and she was one of my followers it would be beneficial for me to know this about her. I would know when and where to utilize her talents. She would be very task oriented completing a specific task within the boundaries and specifications I gave her without supervision. However, she may not do as well if I asked her to create an idea for future growth.
Conclusion
I have done much work to understand myself in the last three or four years and I have grown considerably. I have found that I have a lot more growing to do. However, this fits well into my preferences too- forever looking toward what could be!
Bibliography
Achua, R. N. (2007). Leadership: Theory, Application, Skill Development, 3e. Mason: South-Western Cengage Learning.
Drucker, P. (2006). The Effective Executive. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
Keirsey, D., & Bates, M. (1984). Please Understand Me. Gnosology Books Ltd.
Christy,
This is an excellent, well-written reflection. I hope the materials continue to give you tools for present and future leadership successes.
Score: 100
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Hi *blushes*
Hey guys ...
Sorry its been so long since I posted. It's been a crazy week. Anyway. Hope everyone is doing well. I would first like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSAN (tomorrow)!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-) I am on time this year! You should have already got somethin in the mailllllll.. hee hee.
I have been doing a lot of reflecting about the gym and food and what/how I want to work it. Nothing seems to work for me. I have lost inches but not much weight. Now my inches have slowed down to losing nothing or gaining inches. I expected to gain a little bit of the inches when I started developing muscles or being more fit. It is still discouraging.
I think part of my problem is food. I have changed a lot about my food. Here are the things I have changed:
I don't sit and eat at night while on the computer. That was a major change for me. It was a habit that has been hard to break. I still get figity and start looking for something to eat. If I get that way and get too figity I have been just grabbing a handful of Cheerios and eating them and it seems to work.
I eat at work instead of going out. We may go out once a week or we may not.
I eat breakfast every morning. I was not eating before. If I did eat it was because someone brought in donuts or something. Now I eat eggs and toast or toast, peanut butter and banana or just plain toast. But I do eat something every morning.
I have not been eating out as much for supper. Although we have this week.
I have cut out sweets a BUNCH. I used to eat them all the time. Now if I have something sweet it is a mini candy bar or something healthier- like we made a "Eat Right America" recipe made with strawberrys and bananas- it was a tart. Last night I had cheesecake but that hasnt been happening. I have been skipping desert altogether.
What I haven't done that I could/should be doing concerning food:
Cut portion sizes down
Make healthier choices
Start eating different foods when eating out. Try different things that will deal with my metabolism differently
No eating after 8:00 regardless of how "figity" I get! *lol*
Well thats about it for the food issue. I have a lot to write and will do so tonight. I want to go to the doctor and get a complete physical so that I know what I am dealing with and how hard I can push myself. I want to do a week of writing everything down so I can show the dr- SO I will write more on this later.
Love and Hugs,
me
Sorry its been so long since I posted. It's been a crazy week. Anyway. Hope everyone is doing well. I would first like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSAN (tomorrow)!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-) I am on time this year! You should have already got somethin in the mailllllll.. hee hee.
I have been doing a lot of reflecting about the gym and food and what/how I want to work it. Nothing seems to work for me. I have lost inches but not much weight. Now my inches have slowed down to losing nothing or gaining inches. I expected to gain a little bit of the inches when I started developing muscles or being more fit. It is still discouraging.
I think part of my problem is food. I have changed a lot about my food. Here are the things I have changed:
I don't sit and eat at night while on the computer. That was a major change for me. It was a habit that has been hard to break. I still get figity and start looking for something to eat. If I get that way and get too figity I have been just grabbing a handful of Cheerios and eating them and it seems to work.
I eat at work instead of going out. We may go out once a week or we may not.
I eat breakfast every morning. I was not eating before. If I did eat it was because someone brought in donuts or something. Now I eat eggs and toast or toast, peanut butter and banana or just plain toast. But I do eat something every morning.
I have not been eating out as much for supper. Although we have this week.
I have cut out sweets a BUNCH. I used to eat them all the time. Now if I have something sweet it is a mini candy bar or something healthier- like we made a "Eat Right America" recipe made with strawberrys and bananas- it was a tart. Last night I had cheesecake but that hasnt been happening. I have been skipping desert altogether.
What I haven't done that I could/should be doing concerning food:
Cut portion sizes down
Make healthier choices
Start eating different foods when eating out. Try different things that will deal with my metabolism differently
No eating after 8:00 regardless of how "figity" I get! *lol*
Well thats about it for the food issue. I have a lot to write and will do so tonight. I want to go to the doctor and get a complete physical so that I know what I am dealing with and how hard I can push myself. I want to do a week of writing everything down so I can show the dr- SO I will write more on this later.
Love and Hugs,
me
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Was waiting for this day....
Well, I was dreadfully waiting for this day to come. The day I had to tell you guys that I either gained or stayed the same in my quest. I have gained this week :-(. The only place I lost was my belt line. I actually lost another inch- must have been those crunches I did Thursday. I expected to gain. I didn't do crap at the gym and my food has been off. I didn't gain much weight I think- .6 of a lb and it really depends on when i weigh... but I haven't went back over 300 all this week. I read in a book to weigh every day so you know where you stand and what you need to do that day. It didn't work for me. I just kept getting scared of going over 300! So, I don't think it is wise to do that to myself until I get more into my program.
But... I am ready to start on my action plan and will post it when I get it completed. Thanks for every ones support.
Love and Hugs,
me
But... I am ready to start on my action plan and will post it when I get it completed. Thanks for every ones support.
Love and Hugs,
me
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Working on it!
Hey guys... I have had three people give me suggestions so far. Waiting on some OTHERS TO HELP PLEASE!!! But anyway... I need to make a Plan of Action for the next two weeks (which I am going to start this Saturday). I am starting Saturday because this week wont count- I didn't have my plan ready to take on a task as hard as losing 10 lbs. So whatever the weigh in shows on Saturday I will strive to be 10lbs less that. I hope I havent gained weight this week. I havent been to the gym as much as I should have. Saturday we had to get trees up out of mammaws yard so I didnt get to go to my Zumba class (tears because I missed it.. not because I had to help family). Then Sunday we were gonna go.... but never got around to it. Monday was gym day- skipped Tuesday and Wednesday. Went today. Monday was a light day at the gym. Hardly any cardio at all- didnt feel right. I wasnt warmed up so the machines felt unhelpful to me. Today we did cardio and the workout felt better. Plus it got rid of my headache- which just totally freaking amazes me. I need to have the dr explain that! I did 10 minutes on the elliptical on level 15 with an average of 81 strides per minute. Ugggg. I was all yucky and sweaty! But this time was easier on my legs. So I am building endurance a little. At one point I had it up to 181 strides per minute... I held that for 15 seconds and my heart rate got up to 143. Good Cardio workout. And I burned like triple the amount of calories than I would if I did 15 minutes on the treadmill! That is so important. Then I walked around the track picking up Steven along the way (he did the treadmill). I ran the end cap. But he didn't feel like it so we only went all the way around again. Then we hit the machines. We did a lot of machines - that was fun. And from what I am reading those machines do a lot for diet and your heart! So those who haven't send me anything for my action plan.. .PLEEASSSSEEEE help!
Love and BIG hugs!,
me
Love and BIG hugs!,
me
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Charts
Here are the charts for this last week! I gained a few inches in my boobs.. but I actually think its just really hard to measure em... I mean picture me trying to hold them up straight and Steven measuring.. LMAO!!!!! I also gained in some other places but lost another inch in my belt line.... I think I am evening out! Hee Hee... The big accomplishment, however, is that I met my goal! I actually weighed again this morning to make sure it was for real! It was 297.1 - down two more lbs... but I am not counting on that - you are only supposed to weigh once a week. We will see how it goes :-). My major weight goal now is to get down to 289- 10 lbs. I want to give myself two weeks to do so. So over the next two weeks I will be doing things to lose 10 lbs. This week I plan on eating cereal again for dinner. It was so easy last week and felt so good to just be able to go home and eat instead of deciding where to eat and how to get there. I would like to eat at Stevens mom's one day this week though. So I dunno- will have to make an exception that night. Maybe eat cereal for lunch instead. I am going to outline a plan of action for the weight loss that will include mini goals. I am a collaborative person so I AM ENLISTING ALL OF YOU FOR HELP ON WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT!!! So everyone send me two suggestions on exercises or plans to help me achieve my goal and I will implement them into my schedule. After I get all of your suggestions I will post a PLAN OF ACTION!!! I am excited to see what you guys suggest!
LOVE and BIG BIG HUGS!
me
LOVE and BIG BIG HUGS!
me
Saturday, February 7, 2009
I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey guys.... I MADE MY GOAL THIS WEEK... I am SOOOO happy! I officially broke 300.... I am UNDER 300... and that was my goal. I am 299.2!! Go me .. GO ME!!!
We haven't measured yet... I will put the charts up when we do!
Love and Hugs,
me
We haven't measured yet... I will put the charts up when we do!
Love and Hugs,
me
Friday, February 6, 2009
Headache gone
HEY COURTNEY..... I did what you suggested and loosened my mask... and I woke up without a headache this morning! Love and Hugs, me
Monday, February 2, 2009
HMM... Awesome workout today
WOW--what I did at the gym was unexpected today. I intended to go and do the treadmill and a few machines. Didn't work out that way. I had to force myself to go because Steven didn't go tonight. In fact- I almost went to Target instead. But told myself I was in the freaking parking lot just go in and do the treadmill. So I went in and people was standing by the group class doors and I wondered to myself what was going on. I put my stuff in a locker and checked the door and it they were having a class called Beat, Drum and Boogie. My kind of class! So I said well if I am still here I will go to it. So I went upstairs and got on the treadmill. I started out at 3 mph and did 15 minutes. No running today. I wanted to go do the elliptical. I am bound and determined that it is not going to get the best of me!!! So I set it on manual -- and set the time for 10 minutes. My goal was to go more than I did with Terri - which was 5 minutes. So at 5 minutes I was dying... sweating like I never sweat before- my heart rate was at 80% and I was only doing an average of 80 strides per minute. Luckily a song came on that I loved and I zoned out for 2 or so minutes!!! I opened my eyes and I had 3 minutes to go. I told myself come on ... you can do it.. only 3 minutes! Yes I know that sounds dorky.... but hey.. I am a 301 lb lady....... That's a lot for me! At two minutes I said you have this beat and started doing 120 strides per minute. My legs burned SO bad... My breathing was labored and my head was saying you are an idiot! :-) ..... At the 1 minute mark I cooled down to 58 strides per minute and said NO way was I stopping now.... and I finished TEN whole minutes on the machine from Hell!!!! Yippeee. Then I wobbled downstairs cuz my legs were wobbly.... and I looked at the clock - 5 minutes until the class so I said what the heck. I got a drink of water and went in. Everyone started grabbing the step risers and a big exercise ball... so I did too.... set it up in the back (ball on top of the risers)... and waited. The instructor came out with drum sticks... asked who was new.... told us to scrunch together because we had to hit our neighbors ball sometimes... and then all hell broke loose. She played this music that had a really good- but fast- beat. And we beat and drummed and did a grapevine where we went over two balls hit that one... came back hit the ball on the other side twice.... and we did squat tap (drum sticks in air) squat tap until I thought I was going to go kick her if I had the strength in my legs! Then we did this thing where you squatted hit the floor with drum sticks and then hit the side of the ball on each side with the drum sticks... we did that twice .. then you stood up and "middle side tap middle" and againnnnnnnnnnnnnn............ And we didn't STOP.... With Zumba you have time for a sip of water between songs.. noooooooooooooo not with this one... this one was 45 minutes of constant moving and banging.... And I thought I would never make it! But I did.. Thank God for the cool down session- it was 5 minutes! Then I put my stuff up and wobbled out the door and drank water and more water and more water! So I turned and looked at the machines and said Okkkkkkkkk just a few of you! I did Leg Lifts, Leg Curls, and this machine where you lay on your tummy...... and kick your leg straight out with the weighted bar... I like that one.. it stretched my legs out. And then there was this machine where you laid on your tummy with your bottom up in the air (oh brother)... and curl your legs up toward you- I did that one. And then I worked on my arms for a few machines like the rower and the chest press and some other ones I don't know the names of. NO AB SOLO today!!! Needless to say I am one tired little girl! I was going to go to Target and the grocery on the way home but Steven needed me home to switch cars before he went to bed so I had to come home.
Food for the day:
Points target 32
Breakfast - 1/2 Banana and 2 pieces of Toast = 2 pts
Snack- rest of the banana = 1 pt
Lunch = 1 cup of spaghetti with 1/2 cup of sauce = 6 pts
2 pieces of home made garlic toast (with regular bread) = 4 pts
Total points = 13 ----- 19 left
Supper= 2 bowls of Frosted Flakes Cereal= 6 pts (actually did the points finder for this and that is how much it is)
So 13 Pts left??? YYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Love and Hugs,
ME
Food for the day:
Points target 32
Breakfast - 1/2 Banana and 2 pieces of Toast = 2 pts
Snack- rest of the banana = 1 pt
Lunch = 1 cup of spaghetti with 1/2 cup of sauce = 6 pts
2 pieces of home made garlic toast (with regular bread) = 4 pts
Total points = 13 ----- 19 left
Supper= 2 bowls of Frosted Flakes Cereal= 6 pts (actually did the points finder for this and that is how much it is)
So 13 Pts left??? YYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
Love and Hugs,
ME
Sunday, February 1, 2009
What a week!
This week has been rough for Kentucky!!! A big ice and winter storm came our way. We have trees down everywhere and close to 280,000 without power. In Louisville alone we had 1091 power lines down. I will post pics and maybe a video when I get it downloaded on my computer. All of my family, except me, lost power- Stevens mom and brother, my brother and sis(nlaw), my momma and daddy, my mammaw and papa, and various aunts and uncles. To date all of them are still without power! Not only residential areas were without power- but so were businesses. So, unfortunately, due to Steven being sick Sunday and Monday and all heck breaking loose the rest of week- we didn't get to the gym but one day this past week. I also went Saturday of this week. But I watched what I ate and didn't stay stationary long. That with my body still working at high energy levels helped with this weeks weight and inches loss!! Check out my charts!!! I am now down to 301. I want to make this weeks major goal to be to get below 300. My plans are to eat cereal for supper every day this week (except Friday and Saturday). It's not really as drastic as it seems. I am SOOO tired of EVERYTHING to eat!!! I don't even want to think about supper. I love cereal- so I got some cheerios, sugar crisp, frosted flakes and kicks.... All are made with whole grains and have vitamins and minerals. So I will be fine. The rest of my food plan this week will be a bread and fruit or yogurt for breakfast- like toast and banana, then a fruit or veggie for snack (apple w/peanut butter or cauliflower & baby carrots) and a nice lunch. I have already planned to have spaghetti one day for lunch, chicken Caesar salad one day, Beans, potato, and spam or jowl bacon one day <-- have to watch sodium that day because spam and bacon is loaded with sodium, and home made Paninis one day. Then if I have the money I would like to eat out at Shogun one day. We have cut down eating out at lunch during the week and it feels great to eat home cooking for a change. I will attempt to post every day this week on what I ate for lunch. And then cereal for supper- I am SO happy I don't have to figure out "whats for supper" this week!!!! We will see how it goes!
SHOUT OUT to my friend who is on vacation-- HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME!- Love you!!!! Be safe!
Love and Hugs, me
SHOUT OUT to my friend who is on vacation-- HOPE YOU ARE HAVING A GREAT TIME!- Love you!!!! Be safe!
Love and Hugs, me
Sunday, January 25, 2009
My head hurts :-(..... New CHARTS
Well- my head hurts today but not as bad now as it has been. I took my contacts out and that relieved some of the pressure. Maybe if I start talking about yesterday it will feel better- LOL. Yesterday was great. The girls and I hit the gym at about 9:30. The two youngest ones had to go in the “big kid’s playroom”. I thought it was going to be too little for them so I had them bring their books to read. But they said they had a playroom for the smaller ones and their playroom had two stationary bikes and a basketball court. So this was great for them. Terri got to exercise with me because she is 14 now. I think 13-15 can work out with their parents/guardians but when they turn 16 you have to start paying for them.
It was really fun. She is a great motivator. The ZUMBA class didn’t start until 11:15/11:30 so we had plenty of time to warm up. Warm up???? We did a full workout! First we hit the treadmill. I told her to set it at 15 minutes. I enjoy doing 15 minutes because I can up the speed on it and stay focused on the workout. It also allows me time to do other things. So my goals are going to change for this week. Technically the goals should have started yesterday- but I am going to up the goal for the treadmill so I didn’t meet it yesterday. Anyway….. Miss Terri started out RUNNING on the treadmill- I looked over at her and she was just booking it… I said put your thing on!!! So she is running trying to hook the safety on- LMAO. I could just see her tripping and then flying off the thing. But she got it on. I started mine on 2 mph… then quickly went up to 3 mph. I did most of the workout in between 3 and 3.5. I also ran on 4.5 for a minute straight and 4.8 for a minute and then 5.0 for about 30 seconds. When you are at 5.0….. going down to 3.5 seems great. So after running I stayed at 3.5. At the very end I went running again at 4.8 and then started the cool down phase. When I pushed cool down it went to 3.5 and then 2.8 and then 1.5. It was a great 15 minutes on it. After that we went around the track once and I showed her the rest of the gym from the track. She liked the pool!
We then went to the elliptical machine. So she starts out on this thing and is like OMG… and she actually said “O” ... “M”… “G” this is hard. LOL. But guess what I did! I did FIVE whole minutes on the thing. I was sweating more on that thing after five minutes than 15 on the treadmill. I was going in between 60 and 89 strides per minute. After that we went downstairs for the machines. I introduced her to the ABS SOLO and it is official- we both hate it! (grins) But we did it. Both of us did 20 reps of that evil thing. She plays basketball so as soon as she was sitting up straight from her sit up I noticed her turning her hands like she was shooting a basket. I tried to tell her that she had to go straight up with it- but we both had difficulty doing that because the balls are weighted. I bend my elbows too. She LOVED the Machine that I told you guys about the other day where the padded part of it rolls up and down your back. We both did a bunch of reps on that one. Then I took her to various other machines- we would try to beat each other at reps or weight… it was really fun. The last one we did was the leg press. She kept putting more and more weight on until she was pressing 130 with her legs! So was I. We kept out doing each other on the reps until we got up to 80 each – it ended in a tie!!! She did kick my butt on one of the machines. Not in weight but in reps. It was a machine that you sit down on and pull a weighted set of handles toward you and your whole body raises up and scrunches together. As you bring the handles back toward you … you turn them 90 degrees. Sort of like those push up things you see where you turn your hands as you go up and down. And it resembles a punch when you go forward. She beat me by 20 reps. Couldn’t do anymore my arms were burning!
By then it was almost time for the ZUMBA class. So we waited for the other class to get out so we could go in. I had a blast doing the class and also watching her! We were cracking up at some of the moves. I had a new instructor this week too and her moves were totally different. Very few of the moves were the same. She wore me out! So I had a very full morning. From 9:45 to 12:15 I exercised!!! My abs are still killing me! But it is worth it. My pants fit differently. I haven’t lost that much in my belt line- but above my belt line I can tell a difference in my shirts – the way they fit. They aren’t tight when they get to that part. And my butt area has lost some to and I can tell that loss in my pants.
We didn’t go to the gym today because we were all sick- my headache and Steven is sick and in bed with the stomach flu or something. Hopefully I will feel well enough to go again tomorrow. I hope he feels better tomorrow too. I don’t like going alone. I have posted the new charts above!!! CLICK on them to make them bigger. Slow weight loss. Sticking to my healthy eating will help that I am sure. But the inches are encouraging to me!!! That motivates me to keep going.
Love and Hugs,
Christy
It was really fun. She is a great motivator. The ZUMBA class didn’t start until 11:15/11:30 so we had plenty of time to warm up. Warm up???? We did a full workout! First we hit the treadmill. I told her to set it at 15 minutes. I enjoy doing 15 minutes because I can up the speed on it and stay focused on the workout. It also allows me time to do other things. So my goals are going to change for this week. Technically the goals should have started yesterday- but I am going to up the goal for the treadmill so I didn’t meet it yesterday. Anyway….. Miss Terri started out RUNNING on the treadmill- I looked over at her and she was just booking it… I said put your thing on!!! So she is running trying to hook the safety on- LMAO. I could just see her tripping and then flying off the thing. But she got it on. I started mine on 2 mph… then quickly went up to 3 mph. I did most of the workout in between 3 and 3.5. I also ran on 4.5 for a minute straight and 4.8 for a minute and then 5.0 for about 30 seconds. When you are at 5.0….. going down to 3.5 seems great. So after running I stayed at 3.5. At the very end I went running again at 4.8 and then started the cool down phase. When I pushed cool down it went to 3.5 and then 2.8 and then 1.5. It was a great 15 minutes on it. After that we went around the track once and I showed her the rest of the gym from the track. She liked the pool!
We then went to the elliptical machine. So she starts out on this thing and is like OMG… and she actually said “O” ... “M”… “G” this is hard. LOL. But guess what I did! I did FIVE whole minutes on the thing. I was sweating more on that thing after five minutes than 15 on the treadmill. I was going in between 60 and 89 strides per minute. After that we went downstairs for the machines. I introduced her to the ABS SOLO and it is official- we both hate it! (grins) But we did it. Both of us did 20 reps of that evil thing. She plays basketball so as soon as she was sitting up straight from her sit up I noticed her turning her hands like she was shooting a basket. I tried to tell her that she had to go straight up with it- but we both had difficulty doing that because the balls are weighted. I bend my elbows too. She LOVED the Machine that I told you guys about the other day where the padded part of it rolls up and down your back. We both did a bunch of reps on that one. Then I took her to various other machines- we would try to beat each other at reps or weight… it was really fun. The last one we did was the leg press. She kept putting more and more weight on until she was pressing 130 with her legs! So was I. We kept out doing each other on the reps until we got up to 80 each – it ended in a tie!!! She did kick my butt on one of the machines. Not in weight but in reps. It was a machine that you sit down on and pull a weighted set of handles toward you and your whole body raises up and scrunches together. As you bring the handles back toward you … you turn them 90 degrees. Sort of like those push up things you see where you turn your hands as you go up and down. And it resembles a punch when you go forward. She beat me by 20 reps. Couldn’t do anymore my arms were burning!
By then it was almost time for the ZUMBA class. So we waited for the other class to get out so we could go in. I had a blast doing the class and also watching her! We were cracking up at some of the moves. I had a new instructor this week too and her moves were totally different. Very few of the moves were the same. She wore me out! So I had a very full morning. From 9:45 to 12:15 I exercised!!! My abs are still killing me! But it is worth it. My pants fit differently. I haven’t lost that much in my belt line- but above my belt line I can tell a difference in my shirts – the way they fit. They aren’t tight when they get to that part. And my butt area has lost some to and I can tell that loss in my pants.
We didn’t go to the gym today because we were all sick- my headache and Steven is sick and in bed with the stomach flu or something. Hopefully I will feel well enough to go again tomorrow. I hope he feels better tomorrow too. I don’t like going alone. I have posted the new charts above!!! CLICK on them to make them bigger. Slow weight loss. Sticking to my healthy eating will help that I am sure. But the inches are encouraging to me!!! That motivates me to keep going.
Love and Hugs,
Christy
Saturday, January 24, 2009
A lot to write...
Guys... I have a lot to write tonight but I am just way too tired. Had a heck of a morning at the gym. I will explain later. It was great.
Love and Hugs all around,
me
Love and Hugs all around,
me
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Exercise is great for a headache- LOL
I went to the gym today not knowing what I really could do. I really wanted to be there but I had a heck of a headache! I mean a really bad one. I took meds at work (you know I am hurting if I force down evil pills) and went to sleep for two hours- but I still had one- not as bad as the one I woke up with- but still one nonetheless. I was surprised that when I got off the treadmill it was gone completely. I don't know if my blood pressure was up and the exercise made it go down or if exercise is just that therapeutic. But it was great! I was proud of the stuff I did on the treadmill today. I surpassed my goal- although I really don't know if it counts because I didn't go 30 minutes I only went 15. But it was a hectic 15! When I got on it I started out at 1 mph... 1/2 mph is too slow now. 1 is really but I want my heart rate to go up naturally. So 1 mph for 1 minute... 2 mph for 2 minutes and then I was up to 3 mph until I hit the 5 minute mark. At that time I did 3.5 for a full minute and then back down to 3.0 for 2 minutes. Then I went for 3.5 for 30 seconds and then 4.5 for a full 30 seconds! Yes I did! Then back down to 3.0 for 2 minutes and then 3.5 for a full minute, then 4.5 for 30 seconds and then 5.0 for 20 seconds!!!!!... then I died... LMAO.. nooo.... Then I started cool down 4.0, 3.0, 2.0 for the rest of the time (2 min 10 sec) and then hopped off.
We did a bunch of the machines!... I STILL love the back roll thing- it feels so good... even when Steven makes me press in my abs. We did the Rotary thing and this machine where you sit and pull up these strings and it makes your entire body go up. We did a machine called the Leg Curl- You sit down and push up on this metal thing- they have one like it on the "biggest loser". We did the Rower- Steven had it set on 70lbs and I didn't pay attention. I did 10 and was like that's heavy- he laughed at me- THPPPTTTT to him. We did 2 more arm machines and another machine that you pulled up weights with your arms. AND OMG... we did this thing called ABS something- cant remember the rest. But you lay down and put your feet under these harnesses so they cant move and you do a sit-up, grab a weighted ball, go all the way back down with your arms straight out and over your head- so that when you are completely laid down your arms are extended completely flat with your body and above your head... then you do another sit-up and throw it to make a "basket" and get another ball and do it all over again. I did 20 and thought I was gonna pass out (hee hee) but it was fun.... HARD... my arms were twitching, my abs were like HOLY HELL, and my feet were like don't blame me- I couldn't move! After the machines I told Steven I would race him upstairs and around the track and back down. He declined my offer- but said he would walk the track with me. So we went up the stairs sideways (LOL- that was fun) and started walking the track. About halfway I said we are halfway- time to jog... and started jogging and so did Steven. We turned the corner and he flat out started running! So I started too... we ALMOST made it back! But I was so out of breath we had to go around again so I could catch it..... Then we left. As we were leaving I asked him if he wanted to do the ab sit up thingie again... he said NO.. I said come on.. 10 more... LMAOROF- he wouldn't do it and I don't think I could back up my mouth. We had a great time! I was such in a good mood and my head didn't hurt and the music on the radio in the car was awesome on the way to supper... I HAD an AWESOME night!
FOOD:
Points target: 32
Breakfast- 2 pieces of toast and a small banana- 3 pts
Lunch- Peanut Butter Sandwich (2 pts for bread- 4 pts for peanut butter) and a serving size of Gold Fish (3 pts)= 9 pts
12 pts total so far = 20 pts left for supper- and boy did I need them!
I ate WAY too fast and WAY too much! I was pumped and going about 190 miles an hour- I hadn't had enough food during the day and was hungry. So- I ate a hamburger, fries, 1/2 slaw and a bowl of chili at Steak n Shake.
Hamburger = 8 pts
Fries= 6 pts
1/2 Slaw= 4 pts
Chili= 7 pts
25 pts.... YIKES
5 points over- So here is the dilemma: My doctor told me to add 5 points per day to Weight Watchers- but I usually don't, Also I have 35 flex points for the week- but I don't like to use them. So do I say I missed that goal this week- or give myself the extra 5 points or use my flex points for the overage and say I did stay within my points for the day - thus meeting my goal???? What do you guys think??
Love and Hugs,
ME... pumped up still and can't go to sleep because I am still moving. UGGGGGG 12:39-- UUUUUGGGGGGGGGGG again!!!
We did a bunch of the machines!... I STILL love the back roll thing- it feels so good... even when Steven makes me press in my abs. We did the Rotary thing and this machine where you sit and pull up these strings and it makes your entire body go up. We did a machine called the Leg Curl- You sit down and push up on this metal thing- they have one like it on the "biggest loser". We did the Rower- Steven had it set on 70lbs and I didn't pay attention. I did 10 and was like that's heavy- he laughed at me- THPPPTTTT to him. We did 2 more arm machines and another machine that you pulled up weights with your arms. AND OMG... we did this thing called ABS something- cant remember the rest. But you lay down and put your feet under these harnesses so they cant move and you do a sit-up, grab a weighted ball, go all the way back down with your arms straight out and over your head- so that when you are completely laid down your arms are extended completely flat with your body and above your head... then you do another sit-up and throw it to make a "basket" and get another ball and do it all over again. I did 20 and thought I was gonna pass out (hee hee) but it was fun.... HARD... my arms were twitching, my abs were like HOLY HELL, and my feet were like don't blame me- I couldn't move! After the machines I told Steven I would race him upstairs and around the track and back down. He declined my offer- but said he would walk the track with me. So we went up the stairs sideways (LOL- that was fun) and started walking the track. About halfway I said we are halfway- time to jog... and started jogging and so did Steven. We turned the corner and he flat out started running! So I started too... we ALMOST made it back! But I was so out of breath we had to go around again so I could catch it..... Then we left. As we were leaving I asked him if he wanted to do the ab sit up thingie again... he said NO.. I said come on.. 10 more... LMAOROF- he wouldn't do it and I don't think I could back up my mouth. We had a great time! I was such in a good mood and my head didn't hurt and the music on the radio in the car was awesome on the way to supper... I HAD an AWESOME night!
FOOD:
Points target: 32
Breakfast- 2 pieces of toast and a small banana- 3 pts
Lunch- Peanut Butter Sandwich (2 pts for bread- 4 pts for peanut butter) and a serving size of Gold Fish (3 pts)= 9 pts
12 pts total so far = 20 pts left for supper- and boy did I need them!
I ate WAY too fast and WAY too much! I was pumped and going about 190 miles an hour- I hadn't had enough food during the day and was hungry. So- I ate a hamburger, fries, 1/2 slaw and a bowl of chili at Steak n Shake.
Hamburger = 8 pts
Fries= 6 pts
1/2 Slaw= 4 pts
Chili= 7 pts
25 pts.... YIKES
5 points over- So here is the dilemma: My doctor told me to add 5 points per day to Weight Watchers- but I usually don't, Also I have 35 flex points for the week- but I don't like to use them. So do I say I missed that goal this week- or give myself the extra 5 points or use my flex points for the overage and say I did stay within my points for the day - thus meeting my goal???? What do you guys think??
Love and Hugs,
ME... pumped up still and can't go to sleep because I am still moving. UGGGGGG 12:39-- UUUUUGGGGGGGGGGG again!!!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Nothin today.
Didn't go to the gym today. Went to Steven's moms to have supper... it was delicious! Had 2 pieces of toast this morning with a banana for 5 pts. Had homemade pizza for lunch with a salad- 0 pts for salad and 10 pts for the pizza (have to look it up again but when I made pizzas on tortillas they were 3 points a piece- add 2 pts for the different bread I used - that's 5 points a piece). And I had 3 pieces of bacon, 1/2 cup mashed potatoes, 1/4 cup okra, 2 cornbread muffins and 1/2 cup of pinto beans.
Points target: 32
5 pts for Breakfast
10 pts for Lunch
Points left: 17
Supper--- Bacon = 4 pts
Mashed Potatoes= 2 pts
Okra= 2 pts
Cornbread muffins= 3 pts
Pinto Beans= 2 pts
Total Supper= 13
WOOHOOO 4 pts left!!!
Gym tomorrow!!!! May do 15 strong on the treadmill and make sure I do my 15 x 2 of jogging (3.5) and 15 x 2 of running (4.5) during those 15 minutes so we can do the machines as well tomorrow......
Love and Hugs,
Me
Points target: 32
5 pts for Breakfast
10 pts for Lunch
Points left: 17
Supper--- Bacon = 4 pts
Mashed Potatoes= 2 pts
Okra= 2 pts
Cornbread muffins= 3 pts
Pinto Beans= 2 pts
Total Supper= 13
WOOHOOO 4 pts left!!!
Gym tomorrow!!!! May do 15 strong on the treadmill and make sure I do my 15 x 2 of jogging (3.5) and 15 x 2 of running (4.5) during those 15 minutes so we can do the machines as well tomorrow......
Love and Hugs,
Me
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Gym time!
Back to the gym today! We did 12 minutes on the treadmill which seemed like about 5... I was in the zone today! I went 3.0 most of the time... and got up to 3.5 for 2 minutes.... but I didn't go up to the 4.5. I will on my last trip this week.. or on other trips. I don't know how many more times Steven will want to go. We did a BUNCH of machines today! They had this one back machine where you sit in front of this padded bar and went backwards then did a crunch up.... OMW.. I could have stayed on that thing all day!!!! It ROLLED down my back when I crunched .. and then back up it when I went backwards.. it felt SO good.... killed my abs.. but the back massage was well worth it!!!! It was meant to work your lower back and abs. FUN. There was a rotating one too.. where you sit straight up and put this contraption over your shoulders and your lower body stayed still while you pulled weights from side to side. MAN that was hard... but I need to do more of it. I can't turn as far as I should be able to. I should be able to turn and look behind me with my bottom half standing still... I will get there. Then at the end Steven had me pull down on some weights on a weight thingy. He was pushing and coaching me on that and I loved it. Either he is going to have to do more of that.... or I am going to have to save up for a personal trainer. I thrive on the one on one attention and the challenges... someone pushing me. I NEED that! OHHHH I checked off another one of my goals today. I checked out the pool area... it was neat.
Till next time.... Love and Hugs, me
Till next time.... Love and Hugs, me
Monday, January 19, 2009
I DID IT!!!! Check it out!
I actually achieved my goal on the treadmill today! I warmed up at .5, 1.5 and 2.5 mph for 5 minutes. Then I went for 10 minutes at 3.0 mph! Yes 3.0! I haven't went the entire time at 3 mph... I gave in and put it back down to 2.5 or 2.7. Then I jogged at 3.5 mph for 15 seconds and then ran at 4.5 mph for 15 seconds. Then back down to 3.0 for another 5 minutes. And then I did the 15 seconds of jogging at 3.5 mph and then 15 seconds of running at 4.5. Then another 5 minutes at 3.0. Last a cool down for 5 minutes at the above speeds.... at 1/2 mph it seemed like I was crawling after that!!! I sweat my butt off!!! It was running down my back .. down my face! It was a great workout. However, I need to learn how to breath- I guess that comes with endurance. I worked on the machines as well but I didn't hit them as hard as I could have. Next time at the gym I want to work the machines harder. Maybe do 15 min on the treadmill and then onto the machines. And then the last gym for this week (which will make it four times) I will go back to the full workout on the treadmill. But I am happy I proved I could do the treadmill..... keeping it up is still going to be a challenge. :-)
Love and Hugs,
Me
Love and Hugs,
Me
Sunday, January 18, 2009
And check this chart out!
Total of 13.5 Inches lost so far!!!! Awesome Awesome Awesome :-) (remember to click on the chart to make it bigger) LOVE & HUGS
Friday, January 16, 2009
Oh... Forgot about goals
Forgot to say that tomorrow starts the first week of my "goals". Just to remind myself and everyone else the following is what I am looking to accomplish for the week of Saturday, January 17 to Friday, January 23.... I will post my progress throughout the week!! Wish me luck =-).
Week 1 (our new week starts Saturday- with our weigh in and measure):
Goal 1- Lose 3 lbs
Goal 2- Be able to walk on the treadmill for 31 min at the following speed intervals:
Warmup:
1 min at .5 mph
2 min at 1.5 mph
2 min at 2.5 mph
Walk:10 min walk at 2.7 to 3.0 mph
15 sec jog at 3.5 mph
15 sec run at 4.5 mph
10 min walk at 2.7 to 3.0 mph
15 sec jog at 3.5 mph
15 sec run at 4.5 mph
Cool Down:
2 min at 2.5 mph
2 min at 1.5 mph
1 min at .5 mph
Goal 3- Go to another ZUMBA class on Saturday and go to the gym at least four days this week
Goal 4- Check out the Sauna and the pool area for the first time (not swim nec.- just check it out)
Goal 5- Stay within my Target Points every day this week
Week 1 (our new week starts Saturday- with our weigh in and measure):
Goal 1- Lose 3 lbs
Goal 2- Be able to walk on the treadmill for 31 min at the following speed intervals:
Warmup:
1 min at .5 mph
2 min at 1.5 mph
2 min at 2.5 mph
Walk:10 min walk at 2.7 to 3.0 mph
15 sec jog at 3.5 mph
15 sec run at 4.5 mph
10 min walk at 2.7 to 3.0 mph
15 sec jog at 3.5 mph
15 sec run at 4.5 mph
Cool Down:
2 min at 2.5 mph
2 min at 1.5 mph
1 min at .5 mph
Goal 3- Go to another ZUMBA class on Saturday and go to the gym at least four days this week
Goal 4- Check out the Sauna and the pool area for the first time (not swim nec.- just check it out)
Goal 5- Stay within my Target Points every day this week
It's Cold
OH MY WORD!!!!!!!! It is SO cold. It has been a very long time since it has been this cold. On a positive note I am looking forward to my class tomorrow at the gym. I hope I can keep up. The instructor is rotated so I have a different one tomorrow. She will dance differently- maybe harder maybe not. We shall see. And the weigh in and measurement taking. I think it will be like starting all over. This week has been awful. :-( Will blog more tomorrow. Keep warm everyone :-).
Love and Hugs,
Christy
Love and Hugs,
Christy
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