WI and Update

Well, it's been another intense week. Emotional, intense and exciting. I'm leaving Lethbridge this afternoon for good and making my way to the Greater Vancouver area. Unfortunatly my husband will be staying here for a few weeks to finish up work. The countdown begins until we are together again in the Vancouver area. Ah, change.

On a really positive note, I lost 2 more lbs this week! I am now at 167.5, a total loss so far of 21.5lbs in 9 weeks. Interesting to say the least because it has been another week with very little intentional exercise, no points tracking and so-so eating. I'm pleasantly suprised that I continue to loose each week without much effort. How come it never used to be this easy?

To those of you still struggling to see the sclae go down...you know who you are...I think your on the right track and it will only be a matter of time for you too. I'm sure of it! Keep it up.

I am more than excited to get a new gym membership and get back to an exercise routine. I'll also be purchasing a new bike next week. Really looking forward to the next chapter and loosing the next 20 lbs.

Have a great week everyone and I look forward to more regular blogging starting again next week.

WI and 10% reached!

Well I had another weigh in this morning. I've been good-ish this week. Not as much exercise as usual and I've had dinners out a couple times (including last night!) I was expecting a gain and had prepared myself for one. However, I did have a 1 pound loss. This is wonderful. Basically it proves 2 things. I have learned about portions and food choices enough to make the right decisions without having to track every bite. I NEED to up the exercise. It matters. Also, this petite loss takes me into the 160s and I have busted through my first 10% loss.

I am trying to get back to tracking completly. Moving is crazy and my computr is all the way in the basement and it's much more inconvienient to hang out on the computer. I can't wait to be back into a routine.

In other news. I move in 1 week! Ahh. Yay for finally getting to the coast, boo for having to be seperate from my husband and small cat for almost a month. Exciting though.

I'm going to Shred again this week to get the sweat factor back up. As my life style is getting gradually healthier I find I am moving more. This is good. But a walk no longer counts for intentional exercise. This is my mantra. Intentional Exercise. Intentional Exercise. Intentional Exercise.

I say good day.

I'M BA-ACK...cue creepy music

Hello everyone. It's been a while and I apologize. I have a good excuse though...well 2 really.

1) We were out of town 2 weekends ago (for my run with Julie...I'm sure you saw the pics on her blog!) When we returned, my Mom came down from Vancouver for the week to help us pack up our house and do some painting/mini reno projects before listing our place. I'm moving out to the Greater Vancouver Area on June 23 and my Husband will follow in a few weeks once he's done work. SO excited!

2) I've been having something weird going on with every blog template I try...it won't activate comment posts....strange. Anyways, I've reverted back to an oldie template that I know works for the time being.

Here's whats been going on.

Julie and I did our HSBC 5K run on May 31st. It was awesome. We did it in run walk increments (run 2 walk 1) and finished in about 38 minutes I think. It was a major success for me because last June I attempted one of these and wanted to die. I hated every moment of it. This time, I really liked most of it. I admit, Julie was yelling at me near the end when I could see the finish line and still wanted to stop and walk. But I did it and I was was really proud.

My WI on June 1st was amazing and I lost 3.5 lbs. Putting me at 170.5 (which is 0.4 away from my 10% goal)

Last week was RIDICULOUS. I did zero intentional exercise, but I was packing and working all week. Even though I ate like crap (included Tim's Breakfasts, Chinease Food, Another meal out) i still managed to maintain my weight. I was SOOO happy. I was sure I'd put on 5 lbs. Thank the lord.

I'm back to the grind now. Still finding it a little difficult to get back into a routine with my life all packed away, but workin on it.

ALSO I have been loosly following the Green Smoothie Cleanse from Meagan Telpner's Blog "Making Love in the Kitchen" I'm doing a Green Monster type smoothie for Breakfast and Dinner. Real lunch for now so I don't go crazy.

Oh yeah, I also tried one of those LARABARS that everyone talks about. I tried the one called "Cashew Cookie." It's only ingrediants were Cashews and Dates. Strange. Tasted really good though!

Blog Make-Over

As per Julie's recommendations, I have given my blog a slight make-over. I'm not sure I love it, so it may change again.

This week has been pretty good so far. I feel like I haven't been moving as much as usual, but I'm having some pain in my shins and I'm trying to stay off of them in preparation for my 5k on Sunday. I've been spinning/biking/doing videos. I don't know, I just feel sort of lazy. Perhaps it's the heat.

I was teaching this morning then went for a little bike ride around the neighbourhood early this afternoon. It's an absolutely beautiful day and not windy at all, which is definitely rare here in Lethbridge. I'm done teaching tonight at 7:30 so I think I'll go with the hubby for a nice walk.

I've been thinking about purchasing a new bike. I am currently using my husbands old (and much too big for me) bike and I would love to have one that fits me. I also think it would be a fun activity we could do together since it's so low impact and Cory could definitely keep up. I took a look online and I'm thinking about cashing in some airmiles for some Sportchek Gift Cards. I can get about $125 worth to put towards a new bike. It would essentially be like getting a bike for half price. Hmm. I checked out the Canadian Tire website too to see how much they are there...I'd basically be paying a couple hundred at least. Anyone bought a bike at Sportchek? Anyone have any opinions on this matter?

On another note. It looks like the man and I are taking the plunge and finally moving to Greater Vancouver. Cross your fingers, pray, whatever you do....we need jobs! I'm done teaching the third week of June and I will be heading out about that time. Cory will follow within 2 weeks. We'll be staying with my parents until we can find a place and get set up. At his point, I'm willing to make major sacrifices to be out there and get this show on the road. I may be working at Tim Hortons, or my 15 year old brother may be training me at McD's. haha. Hopefully not.

That means, Julie and I will be less than an hour away for a year. Yay. Until she moves her butt back to Alberta. We can't win. But I'll take what I can get :)

Looking forward to this weekend! Dinner with Julie and fam Saturday night, 5k Sunday morning, then I'm staying with a good friend and her new little daughter for the night in Calgary.

Hope everyone is having a great week.

Reached my first goal!

Well I had a really great week and it showed on the scale again. I am down another 1.5lbs. The best part is that I have now reached my first goal of 15 lbs lost! 15 lbs in 5 weeks. Amazing. I am so proud of myself for sticking with this.

My reward for this goal is 2 new cookbooks. I previously purchased them at COSTCO and hid them in my closet until this very moment. This morning I will be enjoying my coffee and reading through "The Biggest Loser Family Cookbook" and "Hungry Girl 200 under 200" I am so excited to have some new recipes to try.

The past week was good. I continued to get tons of AP's (just about 60 I think) and of course I stayed on points completely. I even had a treat of a small ice cream yesterday while on a day trip to Waterton.

I did a "practice" run/walk of the 5k that Julie and I are doing next Sunday. I did totally great. Run 2 then walk 2. It took me about 37 minutes. Good for me anyways. I know Julie won't let me get away with Run2/Walk2 so I'm going to try Run 2 Walk 1 today and see how it goes. I'm pretty sure I can do it.

Breakfast this morning was some Cottage Cheese Oatmeal Pancakes. Sounds weird, but they are really good.
Make 4 small pancakes
2 servings (of 2)
4 points per serving

1/2 cup oats (not cooked)
1/4 cup cottage cheese
2 eggs (I'm sure just the whites are fine)
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp sugar or splenda

Put it all in a blender and give 'er. Cook like regular pancakes with some PAM in a med-high pan. I topped mine with almond butter, grated apple and a little plain yogurt.

Just a quick one right now, need to get some coffee and get my day going. Hope everyone has a wonderful week!

Yipee!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO JULIE! She has successfully lost big number for the last 3 weeks in a row. She had taken the plunge into the 160's! I am so very proud of her. I honestly think that if I had the struggles she was dealing with at first, I probably would have quit. But she didn't. She usually doesn't. That's why she is so wonderful!

Can't wait to see your skinny butt next weekend. (haha, your butt has always been skinny....can't wait to see your skinny-ness next weekend!)

Way to keep healthy my friend.

Enjoy your day and celebrate!

New Workout DVD Reviews

As I mentioned a couple days ago, I purchased the "Biggest Loser Bootcamp" and "Jillian Michaels' Blast Fat Boost Metabolism" DVD's. I'm actually very happy with both.

BL Bootcamp - Led by Bob.

This DVD is broken up into 3 sections plus a 5 min warm-up and 5 minute cool down. You ADD on sections as you get better, increasing the workout from 20min to 45min. I did the warm-up, the first 20min section and the cool down. I think after finishing the Shred I'm beyond just doing the beginner level on it's own. HOWEVER, I was totally soaked after the first section. I liked the variety in the moves and weight exercises. There are previous BL contestants doing the video with Bob and it's a little unorganized (all changing the moves at different times, etc) but I get the point. It's supposed to be for regular people. Also, I liked his Yoga based cool down moves. I'm unsure of how to count this video...I think maybe moderate rather than high. I wasn't DYING the entire time.

Jill's Fast Blast Boost Metabolism-

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this video. 40 minutes of intensity plus 5 min warm-up and 5 minute cool down. Interestingly, there are no weights involved. Her "girls" are super athletes which makes me be a little more hardcore and Jillian is by FAR more ripped in this video than she was in the Shred. She actually does most of the moves too, which is cool. This video is make up of 7 different 6 minute circuits. 2 are based on kick boxing, 1 is calisthenics, 1 is ply metrics, one is floor/plank etc. It is continuously intense and you really never stop moving. I recognised many of the moves from the Shred but there are a ton of new really awesome ones too. I was able to get through the entire video (alright, I stopped for water a few times) but I think it will remain challenging for quite some time. The DVD also has a feature that lets you choose which circuits you want to do...if you only have, say, 25 minutes. That's good too. I'll b e counting this as high intensity for 40 minutes (not counting the 10 min for warm up/cool down.) 6 AP's. If it get's substantially easier I'll move it to moderate. Definitely as intense if not more intense than the Shred for the time being though. I miss push-ups though. I was really starting to get used to those.

I'm partial to Jillian. Intensity is sort of my thing. I think the use of weights in Bob's will be a nice complement to Jillian's though.

Also, I added in a 12 minute "Oldie but goodie" video for abs from my Slim in 6 DVDs. "Slim in 6 pack" I find both videos are sort of lacking in hardcore ab moves, so this should keep the momentum going in that department. In addition, I've been trying to do either a short Pilate's or stretch video every evening so my body doesn't give out on me :) It's quite relaxing and I can reach well past my toes with straight legs while stretching. Never been able to do that before.

Alright, that's my reviews. Julie, you know the drill. I'll bring the DVD's for you to "try" when we meet up for our reunion run in a couple weeks....eek...less than that.

Good luck at your weight in tomorrow Julie. Hope everyone else is having a great week.

PS - I had an adventure this morning trying to make homemade almond butter.....was I successful?...you can wait anxiously for my post on that :)