WIR ~ Let's Get Fit 2014

[missk82]

Congrats mizbear!! let us know about those size 8s!!

So I was very inspired reading y'all's January progress! I didn't do much in January, but I have figured out my February goals.

1. Lose 8 pounds
2. Stay in WW points
3. 20 minute work out every day: a combo of the core challenge, free weights, jumping jacks, walking, exercise video.
4. Walk 35,000 steps this week. (Only 5000 a day I know, but turns out I usually only walk about 2500 in a day!)

It feels good to have a realistic goal to start with.
Yesterday I stayed in my points, did the core challenge and worked out at home for 20 minutes. A lot of that was walking around my  house and climbing stairs.

[Pants]

Hey guys - sorry, I totally spaced on posting yesterday's core challenge! Today we're on 35s though!

I did swim last night, but not much. I got this terrible headache partway through and had to stop as it felt like my goggles and cap were pushing my eyes out of my head. Only got in 1000 yards, not very hard either. But at least I went!

Then, when I got out of the pool someone had stolen my brand new pool sandals! I suspect one of the elderly ladies in the spa tub, the bitches. Anyway, had to go through the locker room barefoot *shudder*. Got home and skipped core challenge and went straight to bed with a lot of narcotics. Then DD decided ot get up from 12-3ish for NO REASON and talk and talk and talk about things like who was mommy and daddy and where her eyes were, etc. GOOD TIMING, KID.

Anyway, today is not my favorite day so far. I am supposed to do some elliptical tonight, but that is TBD based on how I feel by the time I get home.

mizbear - WAY TO GO on the size 8s! I will say, I had a total realization about size inflation yesterday when I was considering my brand-new size 12 pants that were crazy baggy. I wore size 12 pants from the same company, only from 4 years ago, on Friday and they fit well/were even a little tight. The size 12s from this year must be at least an inch and a half bigger around the waist, thighs, etc! So, don't feel bad if you can't get into your old size 8s even though you could fit into new ones - fuckers are changing the goal post on us!

Also, very glad you bought a sports bra.

missk82 - I love that we're all setting goals for Feb!

[sarcasticgirl]

missK- you can join the upper/lower challenge too. just sayin' 

[mizbear]

I think that could be a lot of the problem, as well as the cut. Most things over a 10 or 12 are too big on the bottom- but jeans are real PIAs- I dread looking for work pants when the time comes. I try very hard not to wear skirts or dresses to work because I am the one who trips over things, clomps in heels and has some jerk look up her skirt because he won't get up on a ladder.

After a second look at the sports bra, we are thinking at least a cup size, maybe 2- but we want to see where I am with my "normal" bra first as a comparison.

[missk82]

Grumble grumble...ok let's look at the upper/lower challenges!  
I know it will be good for me!

[acemom]

February Goals
*Walk at least 10,000 steps/day from here on out (yesterday was eye opening as to how few steps I take in a day)
*No alcohol during the week
*Upper/Lower/Core challenge
*Lose another 4 pounds
*Drink at least 64 ounces of water/day

So yesterday was the first full day with my fitbit. I only walked 6,823 steps, and that was with walking aimlessly around my apartment last night until my BF asked me if I was crazy. Today I have 3,651 in so far. I really never realized how sedentary I am, especially at home Going to shoot for at least 10,000 a day, with a stretch goal of 250,000 by the end of February.

I'd like to lose 4 pounds this month, 1/week... I think that should be doable. I have one weekend of drunken debauchery in Chicago (again) the 21 - 23, but the rest of the month should be pretty calm.

I would also like to add in some additional cardio workouts to my routine.

Thank you all so much for the support and encouragement. Many times I think, "eh, I don't feel like doing anything tonight" and then think about how I will have to check in and say I was a bump on a log... Changes my thoughts real quick

Mizbear - congrats on the 8s! I can't wait to get back into my 10s! I don't think I kept any of my 8s... I'll have to go shopping at some point when I make it there.

[mizbear]

I didn't buy the 8s though. I know I will be puffy for a little bit after surgery, so I am stealing a couple pair of Mom's sweatpants.

Oh let's be honest- I will be swelled up like a blimp... but oh well.

I still have my old size 8 jeans, and will look at them again in March to determine if I want to keep them or yard sale them. I have also considered having ZBear try them on and if they fit, she can have them to make shorts for the summer (she is all leg).

Mom has promised she will make my drinks for me while I am incapacitated, as long as I don't make her drink them LOL.

[Pants]

Oh hey-hey! It's time for the Core Challenge!

On the 35s today, everyone!
35 crunches
35 bicycle crunches/oblique crunches
35 bridges
35 second plank
35 second prone cobra

Do it! Do it! Do it!

[sarcasticgirl]

LOWER BODY CHALLENGE:
The challenge is to do these 3 times a week. Tuesday, Thursday and either Saturday or Sunday (adjust for your schedule)
See post #607 (pg21) for links to instructions on different moves

16 squats
16 bridge march
16 bent knee hip extensions
16 side leg raises
16 lunges each leg

Go GO GO! 

[sarcasticgirl]

UPPER BODY CHALLENGE:
See post #608 (pg21) for links to instructions on different moves

16 Bicep curls
16 Hammer curls
16 Triceps Press
16 Shoulder Press
16 Kick backs

GO GO GO! 

[chiver78]

yikes, if I keep up with all these challenges, I won't need to go to the gym!

confession: I have fallen off with the core challenge, and haven't yet started on the upper/lower ones. I'm having a grumpy wiped out, exhausted night where I'm having comfort food and a cocktail to help me numb the angry ovary that's unhappy with something this week (ugh!) and to help me stay asleep tonight, since that's also seemed to be a problem lately too.

excuses, yes absolutely. I just do not have it in me tonight, and that's something I have to work on - grinding out a workout, even if it's just a quick set of exercises at home while I zone out at night before bed. I am working from home tomorrow (for the weather) and will complete each of the challenges while I'm housebound all day. I will check in once I'm through with all.

question: lunges were the thing that sent my ass to PT from boot camp a few years back. any idea how to modify them so that doesn't happen again? I'm not very interested in having to go back to PT for the same thing.

[sarcasticgirl]

Chiver- confession, I don't do the lunges. They hurt so I don't do them. I have other stuff that I added in the bulk up both workouts.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using proboards

[mizbear]

I need to go buy some bananas tomorrow- unless someone can think of a food higher in potassium- leg cramps killing me- calves

[acemom]

Ok.  Just got done doing the core and lower challenge.  I don't have any weights so I will have to find some before I can do the upper, but I did throw in 16 triceps dips so that I did something.  Let me just say that I am not sure if I will be able to walk tomorrow...  and boy and I more out of shape than I thought!!!    But I did it.  And I have over 10,000 steps today and have had over 64 ounces of water today.  Now if I can just keep this up!!! 

I'm off to clean out my purse and night stands!  Good night!

[MarionTh230]

bsbound -   for the kiddo

acemom - "I really never realized how sedentary I am, especially at home"  This is me times a thousand!  Don't feel bad, some of us are right there with you.  Mostly, I just try to find any small thing I possibly can to keep my butt off the couch.  I figure, I gotta start somewhere.

chiver - "I just do not have it in me tonight"  This is me every.single.day.  That's why I try to set small weekly goals.  Once I hit the door getting home from work it is a constant struggle just to stay off the couch (see above) which makes it even harder to get my fitness in.  

For me, personally, I give myself one day a week where I am allowed to do "nothing."  And when I say nothing, I mean nothing.  No housework, no fitness, no errands, no nothing.  Since Mondays usually suck for me, I make Monday my guilt free do nothing day.  

On the days where I just feel ick, I try to do something.  Usually I can find a way to sneak in my 15 minutes of yoga even if I don't feel like it.  And the stretching kind of helps me shake the ick off.  Or I see my pitiful little   and suck it up and take them for a walk anyways.  They love it so much it makes the ick magically disappear.  

I think you need two things.  Some kind of quick, relatively easy, 15 minutes of something you can do even when you want to zone out.  Even if it's not the most strenuous activity, I know for me, doing something seems to help even if that something appears insignificant.  The second thing is, I think you need to not just plan/schedule your diet and fitness, I think you need to plan/schedule some time or days where you just allow yourself to just not do it that day.  You may not need a day every week for that like I do, but at least once a month.

Diet and exercise are hard.  Things that are hard can be stressful.  Add that to the normal everyday stresses of life, and it can be a recipe for disaster if you let it.  Giving yourself guilt free days off every now and then can help sometimes.


As for me, I popped in to say I blew my calorie goal today.  I destroyed 8 chocolate chip cookies  .  My pink pad app says my monthly visitor should be here in the next day or two so I'm hoping that was what pushed me over the edge.  Also, it was raining so terrible no dog walking and no jump roping today.  But I did get my yoga in at least.

Oh well.  Tomorrow is a new day.

[MarionTh230]

Ewwww, and now that I had to see it in writing, I feel so dirty that I had to confess about those cookies!  Geeze, feeling like I have to be accountable to all you is really making me wonder if the cookies were worth it.....................

But they were chocolate chip, so yeah, they were worth it 

[chiver78]

was there a weight to go with the upper challenge? I didn't notice.

in lieu of weights, acemom, you can use things like large jars or cans of veggies, small (well-sealed) paint cans, anything that's going to provide resistance. I'm in for the night, if the upper challenge needs weights, I'll be using 28oz cans of crushed tomatoes.

[chiver78]

MarionTh230 - sorry I missed your post when I posted last!

I've got a pretty laid-back lifestyle, thanks to living alone, not having kids, and being within 6 miles of my job. most days I have zero excuse to NOT workout in some way, shape or form. since the new year, I've been pretty good about finding *something* to do almost every day - that is progress, believe it or not. just typing that disgusts me, knowing how active I was just a few years ago.    as far as tonight goes, I'll take it as the mulligan for the week, and am already planning the same for next Tuesday (for those outside the Boston area, google "Beanpot Hockey" and know that I'm a graduate of the underdog in next Monday's final)

2014 for me is about breaking bad habits and getting back to ME. I've broken a few bad habits already, picked back up with a couple good ones, and can recognize myself falling back into bad other habits. IMHO, breaking the bad habits are more important than actually losing the weight I've put on. the habits are the source of the weight gain, and with the already increased activity, the weight will go away with the broken bad habits.

after all that, tonight's major whine is that last night was a ridiculously late night for me. next Monday will be as well, even more so should my Huskies win that elusive Beanpot   and I will say that I never really woke up today. if the Bruins weren't on my tv for background noise, I would easily be in bed by now. (I really need to get better about turning off the <background noise> tv at night)

[sarcasticgirl]

Feb 4, 2014 20:53:06 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

was there a weight to go with the upper challenge? I didn't notice.

that is up to you. honestly, I will probably be using 3lb weights for the entire month. My arms are WEAK! If it gets too easy, i'll bump it up to 5.


so, no goals hit tonight. It was a craptastic day from start to finish. work was INSANE. i stayed late. then there was a fire on my train line and service stopped, so i walked a few blocks in the snow and waited 20 minutes for DH to come pick me up. of course i could have walked home in that time... but he was stuck in traffic so we had no way of knowing how long it would take. and the kicker- my DH told his boss that unless something is drastically changed about his work situation, his last day will be the 27th of this month. Long story short- it is a shit show at work, he's been having anxiety attacks, can't sleep without medication, stress levels shooting up his BP, chest pains etc. several people have already jumped ship at his company and it is leaving the leftovers with even worse conditions that before. So basically i have spent the last 3 hours listening to my big bear of a husband cry and freak out and then we went over finances, made cuts and figured out what was what. 
so yeah... i didn't meet my step goal, i didn't do core, upper or lower. i also didn't have dinner, aside from a corn tortilla with butter so i could take my meds. I will make up the upper lower and core tomorrow. and will get in extra steps to compensate for being short (i'm at like 7200)

[ambellamy]

I'm still here. while I've been weighing myself on the scale each morning, I'm not posting numbers since it keeps fluctuating so much... but I'm hoping to start doing that next week.

This last week I didn't get bootcamp or my treadmill jog in I had too much work and it just didn't happen... I ended up planning an event that takes 4 months in 4 days....  (that event was on the 1st which is why I hit 17k steps...

On Monday I got in 5 miles in 1 hr and 9 minutes instead of just 4 miles so i'm going to stick to 5 miles a week and up the ante!

I have a new goal for February. 10,000 steps a day... and it was really hard to do them the other day. It was bed time and i was 2k short... had to walk around my little one bedroom condo back and forth back and forth because it was cold and drizzling outside. But i'm making it happen. So for FEB

• Every day, 10,000 steps.
  
• one 5 miles walk/jog a week
• 1 Bootcamp class at work
• 1 30 minute treadmill no walking jog. 

Feb 1 - 17,217
Feb 2 - 10,048
Feb 3 - 14,977
Feb 4 - 10,466 as of right now 

(I was doing the ab challenge, but I fell off the wagon the last couple days)

[missk82]

OUCH!!! Thank you sarcastic for giving me aching legs and arms today!   I did the challenges last night and am feeling it today. But I am glad - it's been so long since I really pushed myself. I didn't really do the plank though. I think I can only plank like twice a week! It's so hard!

This is a great place to talk about the ups and downs of this journey. I think what is important for so many of us is that even after a day or a week of set backs, we know we will continue on with trying to live a healthier lifestyle, whether it is through better eating or more activity. So keep on keeping on! Everyone is doing a great job of being accountable.

Sorry to hear about your husband's job sarcastic, that sounds really rough. Do you think he will be able to find something else, or will his current workplace make changes?

ambellamy - good job with the 5 miles on monday!!

[sarcasticgirl]

You're welcome missk!! :-) I felt it monday, my arms were sore!

I am jot sure what will happen. Apparently, they begged DH to stay... He was asked if he'd be willing to stay if particular adjustments were made. Hopefully they can and will work something out. There are currently 2 upper levels that do what DH does and 3 (including DH) that are being thrown into it. The 2 uppers will be gone by march- DH has said he will leave and one of the other guys has expressed the same sentiment. So that would leave 1 person doing the work the 5 people did in 70-80 hours a week each. I hope he works it out or finds something out. (10 resumes out in the last week) I don't really want to move and cut to bare bones... But I will.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using proboards

[Pants]

sarcastic - sorry about your DH's job. I know he's been struggling, hopefully something works out.

chiver - it's ok to take a day off now and then. I really like your approach about breaking bad habits - 2014 has been about that for me too. But I've definitely slipped (see Jan 30-Feb 2nd!) too, and it's hard. The important thing is to get back on the wagon. Also, fuck ovaries, they are the worst.

To everyone who has fallen off core challenge:
1) Come on, let's get back on!
2) You are not the only one! I have a hard time doing it on weekends, so there's my confession! 


I'm down another pound, so -31 lbs for me. DH is -37.5 lbs, so we only have to lose another 1.5 lbs between the two of us to make our carribean goal! I always thought he would lose more weight than me, but up until a couple weeks ago we were dead even. Now he's pulled ahead as I've hit a couple plateaus, and that's cool. His beer belly is almost gone and some shirts that are XL are starting to look baggy on him. It's pretty awesome!

This week I haven't been great with exercise, but have been really controlling my diet so I'm doing well I think. Elliptical tonight while DH swims and then swimming tomorrow...

[sarcasticgirl]

Thanks guys! I set DH up with a Drs appt for tomorrow- hopefully he will 1. get his blood pressure under control and 2. get some drugs to deal with his anxiety. who knows maybe that will make things easier for him. (and I have a suspiscion that he may be joining me in some workouts after this appointment! )It is all still up in the air, but I feel better today. I'm still bummed that i missed all my workouts last night- BUT I WILL PREVAIL TODAY!

I hear you guys on the struggling. I feel like this weather is making everything harder too! UGH FEBRUARY IS MY NEMESIS! It is rough- but we can hang in there and do it!!! 

[tcu2003]

Feb 5, 2014 11:14:03 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

I hear you guys on the struggling. I feel like this weather is making everything harder too! UGH FEBRUARY IS MY NEMESIS! It is rough- but we can hang in there and do it!!! 

Ditto. I hadn't worked out at all this month thanks to traveling over the weekends and Mondays just being difficult for me to fit in a workout, so I was actually looking forward (sort of - but definitely amped up about it anyway) to getting on the treadmill last night. Cue an uncooperative child who took nearly 2 hours to go to sleep. Thankfully, I still made myself get on and got in 1.5 miles, but I didn't get in as much time as I would have liked. Here's hoping tonight is better!

[ambellamy]

1. Game Plan: Every day, 10,000 steps.
2. One 5 miles walk/jog a week outdoors
3. one Bootcamp class at work
4. one 30 minute treadmill no walking jog.

Steps
Feb 1 - 17,217
Feb 2 - 10,048
Feb 3 - 14,977 (5 mile outside walk/jog!)
Feb 4 - 10,480
Feb 5 - 10,572 so far (31 minute treadmill jog at 4.9 speed -- no walking!)

Saturday will be my boot camp class so it looks like i'm on track for the week. I have noticed on days I workout, I get really lazy when I get home and just sit on my duffer because i've hit my steps... where as on non work out days i'm doing laps all over the place and walking the pup in the park... 

  

Guess it was a good goal to set for those non workout days.

[chiver78]

checking in to say that I've done half of the core challenge today. opted to hold off on the lower challenge b/c the post lists T/Th/Sat and I will be more likely to keep to it by lining up with the post (not an excuse, seriously. not even going to bother now getting into why that's how my f'd up brain works )   I will do the rest of the core challenge before climbing into bed. I did full situps instead of crunches earlier(feels better for my neck), and the bicycles. still have bridges and the plank. game on!

[tcu2003]

MarionTh230 - I never think chocolate chip cookies are a bad idea. Then again, that may be part of my problem.

DS was slightly more cooperative going to sleep last night, so 2.25 miles on the treadmill accomplished - woo hoo!

[mizbear]

I bake cookies and give most of them away- transferring the calories to other people

I really need to get my mojo back...

I feel like I am treading water right now and not adding anything positive... whine over...

Just worried this surgery will deep six everything I am working on I guess...

[Pants]

Hey guys - sorry, I forgot to post core challenge AGAIN! I am the worst - I've been getting caught up at work in the afternoons, and then our internet STILL isn't working at home. Grrr. Making those phone calls TODAY.

So, with that in mind I'm going to post the core challenge for today now, before I get wrapped up in stuff.

We're on 38s! Core Challenge GO!

38 crunches
38 bicycle crunches/oblique crunches
38 hip thrusts
38 second plank
38 second prone cobra!