Stepping it up...

So I have been at this exercise thing for two and a half weeks now, and I have not lost any weight. Probably because my diet hasn't been the healthiest. At least I haven't been saying no to the sweet side of things, so that needs to change and I feel I need to step up my routine. I wish I felt comfortable going outside by myself and running, but I don't so I am stuck indoors with my exercise videos. So I am going to continue doing my Jillian Michaels DVD's and add in some pilates, so I will be exercising about 50-60 minutes daily. Hopefully I will see some progress by the next time I take measurements. I so want to fit back into the majority of my clothes instead of a small fraction of them. It can be so frustrating looking at all of my clothes some days and know I can only wear a few of them, some still being maternity. So we will see how it goes. I like Becca will be posting my goals here in the next day or so.
Laura

Hey everyone! I know I haven't been good at all about posting, but I am getting some goals together and I promise to post soon. I decided I want to post all of my goals so that I have someone to report to. Anyway, I had a question for Debbie. You were telling me about the book you were reading and how you can measure your fat percentage by different measurements. I don't know how detailed it is, but if it isn't too much you should post it. I am interested in doing it. Thanks!

Becca

My coach/helper

I have a coach now. His name is Boyd! He helps me get out my equipment every morning and puts in the DVD for me. And then he counts with me and pushes me even further by saying I need to do another DVD! And by the way, he calls exercises "eckercises"! It is cute!

Today I did a Jillian DVD and an entire Pilates DVD! It burned and I am sore, but it feels good and I stink afterwards so I shower everyday which helps me not feel like a frumpy mom, which is one of my goals I have set. Too often I feel like a frump, so exercising helps me and I have more energy to keep up with Boyd since he never seems to run out of steam! Hope you are all having a great experience and can't wait to hear how sore you have been!

Laura

My experience

Hey Debbie, when I did the Body for Life thing it was all about low-fat diets and so I looked at the Body for Life cookbook. All it was really was your regular recipes with low-fat or no fat ingredients and lean meats. Like substituting ground turkey for ground beef and using low-fat cottage cheese and omitting the really fatty items like sour cream and what not. So you can stick to your regular recipes and substitute the ingredients.

So today I did Jillian Michaels kick boxing DVD and then attempting to do Pilates to get more of a workout on my abs. Yikes. I made it about 7 1/2 minutes into my pilates DVD. Wow! I hope you are all getting your workouts in. I know it is tough to stay on top of it, but good luck!
Laura

From Debbie

Does anyone have any good eating tips or programs that don't involve going without a food group and can be done while nursing? I am trying to figure out that aspect of getting healthy and haven't yet. Any good low fat recipes? I need something that works for my whole family, at least the dinner part of it.

Walk toJamaica started September 1

So yesterday was the start of Walk to Jamaica (sorry we are telling you this today rather than yesterday). Our goal is to get to Jamaica in 6 months. Jamaica is about 2600 miles away so if we go 100 miles per week we will make it. Each minute of exercise counts as 1 mile. If you want to challenge yourself you can say that mild exercise equals 1/2 mile and rigorous exercise is 1 mile but it is up to you. I will be emailing everyone a spreadsheet that you can keep track of your miles on, if you don't get it by the end of the week email me. We don't want anyone to make it to Jamaica in a couple of months and then stop exercising so you are not allowed to get ahead of where we are supposed to be, you are only allowed to catch up or stay on track no matter how much exercise you do (of course we all self monitor this so you can do whatever you want and if you really want to get ahead, no one is going to stop you). We picked Jamaica because it was the right distance away and we thought it kind of represented a vacation/doing something for yourself so when you make it to Jamaica you get whatever reward you have decided on. We were hoping everyone would write in and say what their reward was so that it was set and we all knew what we are working for. I also thought it would be fun for people to write what their fitness goals are so that we have more incentive to complete them. This is all optional of course. One last thing, could everyone who is planning on trying this please let everyone know so that if we send something to the walk to Jamaica group we don't leave anyone out or bother anyone not doing it? Debbie

I've started

So last week I started my exercise regimen using Jillian Michael's kick butt dvd's. (Jillian is the gal who does the Biggest Loser TV show, for those of you who are interested). Anyways, she has been kicking my butt, but it is a good workout. It's 30 minutes of aerobic resistance training, so we use a step, light weights, and a mat. Which I like. So now that I am started, I just need to take a picture and print it, so I can remind myself daily why I am doing this.

Oh and by the way Carrie, thanks for posting the measurements chart. It helps to see what I would like to lose in inches too and not just weight. Hopefully I can see success next time I weigh in and measure myself which will be September 25th. Maybe I'll check the scale in between now and then but I really don't want to unless I know I am losing, just so I don't get depressed. Hope you are all doing well with your goals. Best of luck!

Laura