MJ

Hi, ladies! Time to check in again!

This week has been OK. I haven't worked out as much as I usually do because I was fighting off a head cold. I got over my cold very quickly and I seriously think it has to do with water and multivitamins. I've mentioned these before but I have to say, they have really made a difference in my life. I feel so much better when I drink enough water during the day.

I have started to stretch out every night before bed. I think I'm addicted!!! It feels great and I sleep better. I actually have tight muscles that need to be stretched because I exercise every weekday. I never thought sore muscles would make me happy but they do! I am changing! My clothes fit differently. I am so glad we started this challenge. I absolutely needed it my life!

I really want to push myself this next week! Sore muscles, here I come!

Depositing $8

PS I read Rachel's post before I signed in to finish mine. Rach, you are not alone in your bathroom issues and water has helped me too. Thanks for being willing to put that out there!

Maria Week 7

I know the title of my post is really boring, but it helps keep my hopeless brain a tiny bit organized.
I worked extra hard this week to try and make up for all the workouts I missed last week. I think I did pretty good as far as that goes. I also tried harder to eat more fruits and veggies. I need to measure myself (promised myself I'd do it this week, but I'm menstrating so I put it off!) I'm feeling a difference even in my few new items of clothing so I think I might hit that go down a size milestone soon. YAY! (Except that I'm not financially ready to go buy a new wardrobe - ARGH!)
Didn't lose any weight this week - that's two weeks in a row. I'm hoping this isn't a (watch out - naughty word warning) "plateau".
Also, I think I've got my free day under control. I weighed myself the morning of my free day (or free meal, rather) and then again the next day and I'd only gone up 0.2 lbs! I was careful with what I ate all day except that one meal and then I didn't eat anything after 6 PM. I did notice that I am not getting enough water on my free days and I think that could be part of the problem, too. I'm dehydrated, but I think I'm hungry so I eat.
I'll be depositing $16 - unless anyone has any objections to that. I know that it's past the "limit" but I earned it (without milestones) and I want a very expensive reward next year.

Rippling Muscles

Not mine. I don't have any. Well ..... I don't have many. At least not yet.
Some day I'll have some. Some day I'll be covered in them. Just like my beautiful inspiration.


I began watching myself in the mirror while working out to ensure that I had good form; was doing the exercises properly. I continue to use the mirrors for that purpose as well. But now I also use the mirrors to watch some of my muscles bulge and ripple. Yep, some of them are starting to ripple!
I have never liked my calves. I have always thought they were too big. But they weren't fat so I didn't know WHAT to do about them. I still think they're too big, but I'm starting to like them - A LOT! They're getting a lot of definition and I love to watch them in the mirrors while I'm on the bicycle, treadmill, or elliptical - to watch my rippling muscles.

Ode to a New Scale, Part II - the follow up. . . by Jj

So I learned one more thing from my fancy schmancy scale yesterday . . . when wet, my hair holds onto over a half pound of water. And that is after towel drying. And to think I was wondering about the headaches. Silly me.

MJ

First of all, I just want to say "BOOYAYA*!!! Sister, you rock!" to Maria. I'm very impressed with the way you have handled everything in your life this week. I feel like sending you money for your last post about your milestone!! And I loved seeing Justin post a comment!

Now, back to my update. I had a regular kind of week as far as exercise goes. I'm happy to say that my hubby has been watching my progress and decided to be my fitness coach. He researches exercises for me and even works out with me sometimes! (Thanks, Babe!) My biggest challenge right now is the bore factor. I would love to do PX90 or something like that but my options are limited. I love Tony Horton by the way, I do his ab workout and it's great but the rest of the stuff is too much.

Water and vitamins are now a part of my lifestyle thanks our milestone program and so I'm going to move on to flexibility! Rach, let me know if you have any tips since this is also one of your focus areas!

Depositing $12 this week

*BOOYAYA is a butterfly form of the urban slang "booya." It still carries as much power and feeling as the old form but has evolved into a more feminine and empowered expression.

Ode to a New Scale, Part II . . . by Jj

Something seems to be in the air this week . . I've felt totally unmotivated and like I wasn't making any progress all week - and my feelings were right. Since I'm starting over with my new scale I have no idea if I've lost any weight but I will tell you this . . it's one of those fancy schmancy scales that measures my body fat, body water, muscle mass and bone mineral mass. And I learned way more about myself than I ever wanted to know (however, had the measurements been positive I probably would have been excited). Now I've got to figure out what all of them mean and what I need to change to make them better. Like for instance, I learned that within the last six months I went from just fine on the BMI scale - to disgustingly obese. All while fitting into the same jeans (although admitidly not comfortably). How does that happen?? Obviously I've lost muscle mass and gained fat to replace it . . but that will change. I refuse to jiggle in places I didn't know could. Of course, I don't think those scales are totally accurate either so I've got to weight myself everyday (ugh) and keep track of the numbers so I can figure out an average for the next month and then I'll be able to get a little more out of it.

Anyway, on to the minimal positives that I have for the week . . for the first time I didn't lose any significant inches that fit into my milestones, althougth I did lose them in random other places which I know cuz clothing is fitting differently - but that still doesn't make it any less depressing, by the way. But I did however accomplish one goal that I didn't think I'd reach for months . . .

On Saturday I ran an 8:12 mile! I totally passed my goal of a 9 minute mile by 48 seconds!

But now for the rest of the story . .

I was waiting for a phone call from my Mom who was waiting for me to join her at a wedding reception that evening so I took my phone with me in Chuck's backpack and had to stop and pause my timer to answer the phone half way through my run. So technically I had about a minute and a half break which gave me the chance to catch my breath and rest and then I was able to finish the mile in record time. So now I'm wondering . . does that count? Technically I did finish it and I did run the entire mile - just not in one stretch. So I'm taking a vote . . does it or does it not count as my milestone? If yes, then I'll be depositing $10 this week, and if no then it will just be $8. And as for my other new milestones . . One freakin day of not getting my 8 cups of water and fruits and veggies! I so need to be better on Sundays! So those two both started over again on Monday. One day I'll get on top of these things . . . (don't hold your breath, ladies).

It's been a rough week

I feel like that's my new motto. But hopefully, not for much longer. I expect that things will turn around very soon - and just in time for the holidays and all the wonderful holiday parties, family dinners, and neighbor gifts of cookies and chocolate and SUGAR!
I slacked off. I feel bad admitting to that after my last post. But I'm also motivated to make up for it! And I'll convince myself that's the difference between the old me and the new me. The old me would have put off the change until after Halloween, next Monday, after Thanksgiving, after Christmas, or until New Year. The new me is ready to start TODAY. I'll hit the gym even harder and longer than ever. And I'll get back on track with my diet and my on-line journal.
I'll be despositing $5.50 for the few workouts I got in and the few days I actually ate my fruits and/or veggies.