Healthy Living Challenge - Summer Slimdown - Week 5

[Sarah428]

Week 5 already:eek: !

From last weeks board we have the following joining us:
Sarah, Patsy, Leigh, Alice, Charisse, Tyra and Kay (Sorry if I missed anyone). The past few weeks have been a challenge for most of us but I think it's great that we've basically been maintaining and are staying focused!

For this weeks theme day it's Freshen Up Friday: freshen up your routine by trying a new exercise, new equipment, new walking/biking route, etc.

I've started a four week challenge at my gym. We're a team of 5 and weigh-in each monday. Get 1 pt for maintaining, 0 for gaining and 2 for losing. Also get 1 pt for each 1/2hr of exercise per day and 1 pt for 64oz of water. I'm hoping this will keep me honest w/ my food choices!

For this weeks workouts:
Monday - 42min elliptical, 8min row (Done)
Tuesday - 20min elliptical, running group, pilates
Wednesday - 50min cardio, walk w/ dog
Thursday - repeat tuesday
Friday - 50min cardio (trying a different "course" on the machine, usually do manual), walk w/ dog
Weekend we have a wedding so don't see much exercise, hopefully will get something good in on the day off on Monday.

Keep up the great work everyone...Happy Monday!
Sarah

[lhall]

Let's just say that things fell apart on Friday. I'd planned to get 2 swimming workouts in, but the pool's not ready. It's now supposed to open this coming Saturday.

Leigh

[patsyk]

Well, it's a new start with a new week! :)

Here's what I hope to do this week:

Monday - gym - cardio done!
Tuesday - Yoga Fitness class
Wednesday - gym - cardio (will try a new machine to my "freshen up" my routine)
Thursday - Total Body Blast toning class

Well, when I weighed in, I was back where I started... so, after 4 weeks of doing SBD phase 2, I am going back to something that worked for me previously... WW. So, my goal is to not go over 20 points a day so, I can start losing again. I think the reason this works is because I have to write down everything to make sure I am not using too many points.

That's my plan for the week.

Sarah - you have quite a schedule set for the week -
YOU GO, GIRL!! - you are certainly going to motivate me to try to work in some extra workouts this week... maybe pilates a couple of times. I didn't schedule it, since I have had such a hard time doing it at night lately.

Have a great day everyone!
Patsy :cool:

[tbb113]

Well...I walked once last week and watched what I ate fairly well. I lost 2lbs due to the lowered carbs but I didn't get on the scale today after the cookies and baked potato and popcorn and bread from this weekend ... I don't want to know if those pounds are back :rolleyes:

Goals this week:
Really watch the carbs (no cheating)
Walk 3 times (if I keep putting it here...maybe I'll actually do it ;) )

Tyra

[cniles]

Hi guys!

Well my freshen up Friday is Freshen up Tuesday - I tried my new Core Foundations video - it uses a stability ball, lots of planks etc... I fell off the ball so many times onto my face!! But I can tell it's gonna do something to my tummy and back so I'm keeping with it!:D

Sarah - your challenge at the gym sounds cool! It's nice you can do it with a couple of people to help keep you motivated!! How are the wedding plans coming along?

Patsy - sorry SBD didn't work out for you! If WW did the trick before, then go for it! Good luck with the 20 pts! Do you have their cookbooks?

Tyra - How's the walking going? Do you have elevators in your building at work? Can you take the stairs a couple of times a day? Just a thought! I'm pulling for you!!:p

Leigh - Do you guys have a pool or are you talking about a community pool? Can't wait for ours to open this weekend! It's a bargain too - $200 for a family of 4 for all summer! Unheard of from where we came from (Philly area!)

Have a great Tuesday everyone!!:p

[pbutterfly]

I'm sneaking back into the challenge this week after somehow managing to not post last week at all! Sorry, gals. I was still doing it, and thinking of you all, but things got busy.

The good news is that my ankle-twist wasn't bad and healed in a few days... the bad news is that this small-but-annoying pain in my foot (so small I hadn't even mentioned it!) was diagnosed as sesamoiditis and I have to now go to physical therapy twice a week (the doctors appointments cut into my online time last week, and now the PT will, but I'll still try and post SOMETHING unlike last week!). On the fun side, I went to my cousin's wedding last weekend which was a lot of fun.

Challenge-wise, I'm still hanging in there at about the same weight, which is frustrating. My motivation is returning, though, which is good, so I am taking the steps I can (given that I'm limited as to forms of exercise for now) to do something positive. I've been going to water aerobics and will be able to count some of the PT time as activity as well. I can also do my weights and the bike or spinning, just no elliptical/treadmill, limited walking, and (saddest of all to me) no dance class.

Patsy - I do WW, too. :)

This week my goals are:
3 workouts (one already done)
drink all my water
stay in my points range
pick smart/healthy mid-afternoon snacks
continue daily journals (both my WW food journal and a writing one)

:)
lynne

[tbb113]

My office is a very large one story building. I could walk around it (and have thought about it) but I might as well just admit that I'm a couch potato and not very motivated at that :o But I do think about walking....does that count? :D

[lhall]

Well, I haven't worked out yet this week. I'm trying to adjust to a new routine. I did walk around an open area mall for an hour this morning. We needed to replace DD1's glasses. My knees were bothering me this morning too.

Charisse,
It's the neighborhood pool. Nothing terribly exciting. 3 ft on each end, and 6 feet in the middle. No slide or diving board. But, it's right behind our house. :D :D

Leigh

[patsyk]

Well, so far so good this week!

Tuesday's goal has been met - did my Yoga class at lunch time... felt so good! :D

I am also doing well on day 2 of being back on WW points.

Lynne - any tips you can give me on low point snacks would be appreciated... that's my biggest downfall... the afternoon and the vending machine! :o

Cherise - I do have one WW cookbook... Make it in Minutes. I have quite a few recipes in there that I really enjoy so, I know we'll be eating more from there... since, I am imposing my diet on everyone in my house! (not really, but they get whatever I make for dinner, so if they don't like it - too bad! :D ) That new video of yours sounds great!

Tomorrow, when I go to the gym, I'll be giving the elliptical a try... haven't tried it in a really long time... usually feel pretty uncoordinated (is that a word?) when I do it... we'll see how it goes!

Have a good day!
Patsy

[Sarah428]

Wow, it's 2pm already, this day is flying by!

Patsy - SBD didn't work so well for me either, even though I only tried 2 weeks of it:o . For me it's just a matter of counting calories and choosing healthy snacks, my meals are usually always healthy. 2 days down, great job!

Leigh - great idea getting some exercise in while waiting for glasses.

Lynne - glad to hear your ankle got better, but now your foot!?! I hated going to the PT for my knee issue a few weeks back! It was needed but it cut into so much of my evening time since I had to go after work...hopefully you'll get it resolved soon! Good luck and welcome back!

Charisse - Whenever I try to the pike pose on the ball I always land on my face too! DBF wonders why I will only do ball exercises while he's gone or busy in the basement or something:o .

Tyra - I think if you envision yourself walking that sorta counts;) .

Well Monday went well for me, on top of what I already had done in my last post I got out for a 20min walk w/ the dog. This morning did 20min on elliptical machine before running class. We did drills up at the track for 30 minutes. Will be doing a 45min pilates DVD tonight, must do it!!! I've been tracking my food this week as well, so far not too shabby.

Talk to you later all!
Sarah

[rosie_one]

Whoops, meant to check in yesterday and didn't get to it, sorry.

This weekend was really not bad. Much better than the past few, excepting that we made a batch of those mango margaritas and they were absolutely heavenly. Yum.

I think I'm down 2 or 3 pounds in 4 weeks, which isn't bad. I just need to stay on track.

Still working out 15 minutes daily, which has been going well. I really do enjoy my space and that time. The stability ball thing is challenging, but it works for me. The ab exercises are particularily effective on that piece of equipment.

Also doing a pretty good job with the menu planning thing. The BB has helped me there too.

Sarah, I like the sound of the team approach your gym is doing. Kind of fun and social as well as motivating.

Patsy, I hope WW does the trick. It sounds like it has worked for you before, good luck!

For freshen up friday I have a new Tai Chi video I'll break out. Whoo hoo. :)



Tyra, keep going girl.

[Kay Henderson]

Lynne, my sympathies on your ankle. Been there!

Weigh-in/measurement day at Curves---

In the past month, I have lost 1 pound (.74 body fat) and 2.9 inches. Again, not going to win any prizes, but I never do.

I will be EXTREMELY busy the next month chairing a home tour on June 26, so I am going to make top priority trying to go to Curves three times a week. I know from past experience that it is all too easy to fall off the take-care-of-yourself wagon when you are this kind of pressured.

I'm happy to hear of everyone's progress and want you to know how helpful it is to be able to check in with you.

Have a good holiday weekend!

Kay

[patsyk]

Hi, Everyone!

sounds like we are all getting back into the swing of things this week... that's great! :D

I got my 2nd day of cardio in today... so, just one more trip to the gym on Thursday and my goals of getting there are met for the week!! Woo Hoo! :D

I am doing ok with the WW and tracking what I am eating. The goal of not going over 20 pts a day is very hard to do... I have stayed close, but gone over it each day. Still working on my planning... need to do a search to find those low-point snacks that I know people have discussed before...

At any rate, I am feeling good overall about this week.

Kay - good luck with dealing with all that pressure... it's really important to schedule time for yourself when you know you will be so busy.

Rosie - that's great that you are down a few lbs! Way to go!

Have a great Wednesday everyone!!
Patsy

[tbb113]

I think I did better before I joined this thread :(

I had a run-in last night with a pan of brownies (they were good ... but as I was eating them I was questioning myself WHY????) But, the good news is the pan is almost all gone (thank god for neighborhood kids who treat my kitchen as their own kitchen :D ) and I'm working on my self-control again!

[Sarah428]

Tyra - Please don't leave:) . Self-control is my biggest downfall as well, see my story below:o .

Patsy - Congrats on getting close to fulfilling your goals!

Kay - great job, I would love to lose 2.9 inches...and give yourself a prize, you deserve it!

Rosie - mango margaritas, yummy! Menu planning helps keep me in line too, just can't find the time to do the planning.

How's everyone else doing this Wednesday?

Well last night I didn't get my pilates done:o . I got my CSA box of veggies & fruits delilvered yesterday so went home and cleaned it all, made salads for tonights dinner, made a rhubard crumble, made all of DD bottles/lunches/dinners for the rest of the week, and made some egg salad (which I haven't had in years). When I got done it was 9:25 and didn't feel up to 45min of pilates. Instead I sat down and ate a 1/2 egg salad sandwich and just a bite (really, just a bite) of the rhubarb crumble to see if it turned out. I already told DF that I needed to do my pilates tonight so he knows to get downstairs and out of my way:D !

Hope you're having a great one!
Sarah

[lhall]

I walked around the zoo for 4 hours today, sometimes carrying a 30lb child. :D

Leigh

[pbutterfly]

Ugh. I was up yet again at WW today. This week's goal is to LOSE SOMETHING. If I really stay aware and make good choices, that shouldn't be an impossible task, right?!? :)

Patsy - Mid-afternoon snacks are my current challenge, though I've had success with them in the past. The real trick for me is to plan ahead! If I'm honest with myself, I know I'm going to want/need something about 3 - so planning for it is better than wandering to the vending machine and being stuck with whatever options are there. And if I bring something, I'm 10x more likely to eat it than to give in to something else that's a worse choice.

What to bring? Yogurt is a good one for me (with a little sprinkle of chopped nuts or crunchy cereal, if you want). Melba crackers with Laughing Cow cheese is another good one that holds me over. I love the new-ish Laughing Cow cubes - easier to carry and put on crackers! Veggies (baby carrots, cut up pieces of broccoli, celery, peppers) with a dip are good, if you have a place to store them. Fruit's always a good option, and for a treat, I'll get the already cut-up stuff from the grocery or the deli. When I'm really hard pressed for ideas/time/whatever and I want something sweet, 2 Point bars (or some other low-point bar, like Luna) are handy and better than the vending machine. And, when I *don't* plan ahead and am cruising the vending machine, I make it a game - I can only choose among the healthiest 3 options (usually, in our machine, that means nuts, pretzels, and trail mix). If none of them sound good, then I'm not really hungry and I don't need anything! :)

Hope that's of some help. I need to start making a longer list of snacks for myself, so I'd be glad to hear other ideas!

lynne

[patsyk]

Lynne - thanks for the snacking ideas... I'll add them to my shopping list for next week!

I know you are supposed to weigh once a week, but I just wanted to check this morning... and I am down 3 lbs again... not sure if I am just following WW better than SBD, or if my workouts have "kicked it up a notch" or what... but it certainly is motivating me to keep to my points!

At any rate, I finished my last workout of the week today... We are heading to the shore on Saturday, so I hope to get in some walking on the boardwalk while we are there... so, I'll actually get in an extra workout!

Hope everyone enjoys the 3 day weekend!!!
Patsy

[cniles]

Wow - everyone sounds like they are doing great!!

Tyra - hang in there girl!! Everyone has those moments - just keep moving!!!

Alice - that stability ball is amazing. My abs and triceps are so sore today (2 day lag) but I'm gonna get back on that thing tomorrow!

Patsy - good for you! It's hard not to get on the scale (i do it everyday:rolleyes: ) But sounds like WW is working! What beach are you going to? I miss the jersey shore!

Lynne - hang in there - it's frustrating when that scale doesn't move. Keep journaling!;)

Leigh - where was the stroller when you needed it?!!! That definately counts as a workout! We're planning on going to the Baltimore zoo in a couple of weeks - hope I don't have to carry my 36 pound child!

Kay - being in charge of a house tour! That sounds wonderful!! Is it one house? a bunch of houses in one area? Very cool.

Sarah - yummmm egg salad and rhubarb crumble.......

Well I was getting set for a day of baking tomorrow - we're supposed to go up to the Pocono's for the weekend. We've been doing this for the past 12 years and our group of couples has grown to 15 kids plus couples!! Anyway I'm in charge of breakfast and am making cinnamon rolls, plus brownies/bars and rhubarb pie. BUT Sam spiked a fever of 102 this afternoon so I'm not sure he's going to preschool tomorrow (it's his last day too before summer vacation!) So we'll see how he feels tomorrow but I don't want to make all of this food if he's not going to be well enough to go!! We'll play it by ear!

I did get my workout in this morning though and am pleased that I'm still maintaining my weight.

[patsyk]

Originally posted by cniles
Patsy - good for you! It's hard not to get on the scale (i do it everyday:rolleyes: ) But sounds like WW is working! What beach are you going to? I miss the jersey shore!



We'll probably end up at Point Pleasant since our friends (and my in-laws) only live about 30 minutes from there... later in summer, we'll go to Island Beach State Park for when we want to actually get ON the beach... this early, though we'll just walk the boardwalk and let the boys go on a few rides.

Where did you used to go?

Your weekend at the Poconos sounds like fun... hopefully, that fever will go away quickly so you can still go!

[cniles]

We've never been up north before - LBI is the farthest we've been and that was a long time ago. Usually we keep to OC, Avalon, Cape May - with the kids we camp - we have a tent but my brother in law has a camper (handy when it rains!!) It was nice b/c it was only a 2 hour ride from King of Prussia - now we're looking at 4!!

Fever seems to be subsiding a bit - he's back to nitpicking with his brother!!:rolleyes: :p

[patsyk]

Hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day weekend!

charisse - hope that fever went away and you got to enjoy everything you had planned.

Just wanted to put my update on the old thread first... lost 4 lbs last week! Woo Hoo... those 3 I lost and regained went away with a bonus of an add'l lb! :D