Music to my ears...

Activity: Downhill Skiing
Time: 120 minutes
Calories Burned: 1,434

To hell with running, I am becoming a ski bum. If not for those apres ski brewskis...

The Grand Weigh-in #1

Well, we are out of town.

After skiing all afternoon, I did indeed go to the gym...why? Not quite sure, as it was my first time back on skis since pre-Cal, and my quads and calves were a-singin'. Yet, I wanted to give it a go, if not just to weigh in. It had been a week, after all.

Yet, to either my sheer delight or dismay (jury is still out), the gym lacked a scale. So, the weigh in will just have to weight (ha) until next Monday.

A day off never hurt anyone...

So, I did not work out today...

I suppose one day off a week is cool.

Tomorrow, it's back on the wagon. Giddy up!

EA Active...is EA Amazing

 
Today, it snowed. Not to the point that school were closed or anything, but to the point that my desire to leave the house, scrape the car, shovel the driveway, and wear extra layers just to go to the gym was not high on my list. But, I needed to workout.

For Christmas, Eric bought me EA Active II for the Wii. Before the gasps, don't worry, this was after I had opened the Tall Grass Spa gift certificate...and I had indeed asked for the game. We recently reinstalled the Wii in our basement, and hooked up the EA Active today.

I must admit, I was a little skeptical. A game was going to provide a great workout? I mean Wii Fit is super fun, but it does not exactly blast the gut. So, after scouring the game's excellent reviews, I thought to myself..."Why not?"

I spent my evening running, shooting hoops, lifting weights, mountain biking, jumping rope, and planking all in the comfort of my warm home. With a heart rate monitor and sensors on both the leg and the arm, the game is truly interactive...and really does work you right out. As my thighs screamed during the last bend of my mountain biking route (a series of deep squats, squat jumps, and jogging all timed to a mountain biking scenario), I was utterly convinced that this was hitting the spot AND I was having a blast.

I was able to set goals, weigh in, choose specialized workouts geared towards the sport or activity of  my choice (Soccer player? They have a soccer workout. Baller? Got that too.) or just a general full body workout...it really was great! The game diversified activities, so I was never bored and had the perfect blend of cardio and weights. With the ability to vary the level of intensity, I could choose a workout that would not be too easy, and yet would not kill me. 

My only complaints: The time for the activities to load was a little lengthy, the Wii Balance Board kept turning off and halting the workout-don't use it, and you don't need the resistance band for almost all the activities that say its required-I used free weights.

In conclusion, today, workout completed, via Wii, and I liked it- so did my thighs. They will be sore tomorrow.

The plan...

Here. We. Go.

The following details my plan of action, for the next 3 months, so far as I can plan it. Planning is not my strong suit, so I reserve the right to amend any of the following statements, especially the one about sweets.

What? Weight/Inches Loss

I need to lose 25-30 pounds and here is why. I would like to have another baby, and God-willing, that will occur. But, I see the remnants of Calan everyday, and I recognize that these remnants have the potential to only get worse with baby numero dos. Now, to be fair, I wasn't necessarily in tip-top shape pre-Cal, I own that...but, you've either got to use it or lose it, baby, and I choose lose.

I weighed in today...and if you think I am going to publicize the number I saw on that scale, you would be straight crazy. But I know what it is, and we will call it zero. Thus, every Monday I will be posting my weight loss or gain [gasp] in relation to zero (ie: if I lose 5 pounds...my stat will be -5, yeah?)

Now, this whole thing is actually not about pounds, but moreso about fitness... and... jeans. I know that the pounds don't matter, as long as you feel good in the jeans. So, that will be my ultimate goal...easily sport the jeans in which I would like to see my booty, and get out of the cottage cheese that seems to have followed me out of my pregnancy. That said, pounds are an easy way to measure it, so that will be my marker, but it's ultimately about the denim. I suppose pounds AND inches, yeah, I will measure those too, someday, when I get the courage. 

How? Exercise and Diet

Exercise

I am currently working on a Couch to 10K running program that was recommended to me....and have really been loving it!

As I ran into some issues when I just started to run like a marathoner..those issues being hurt knees and splints...I decided to slow it down. I will explain all this in a later post, but the gist, don't go run 2-3 miles without having run in years and expect your body to love you for it. (I know, I know, my comparison to marathoner was a bit hyperbolic...you're welcome)

The running plan is only about 3 times a week and I plan to work out 5-6 times weekly, thus I will be supplementing with alternative cardio, weights, Wii (Active), and some other fun stuff. Stay tuned...

Diet

I love food. I own it...I love it. I look forward to what is for dinner, starting right after breakfast...yep, food is good. And I am certainly good to it. Yet, I am starting to realize that "tastes good", and "good to me" are two entirely separate things.

I am a big fan of eating healthy..and our house overflows with health food. Problem is, I am a sucker for a quick-fix, and drive throughs are the best quick-fix I know. Hence, in order to stamp out temptation, I will be doing a combination of the South Beach Diet phase 1 and 2 for the first few weeks, and then move into phase 3.

I love the SBD, as if affords so many tasty food options, and they are meals that we would be cooking anyway. It also affords very few, if any, carbs....the diet's sure downfall. But I find it is always good to break old habits, especially when they involve cookies (in moderation). So, no sweets, at least for a bit. God help us all...this from the girl who, if Stiegg Larsson were to write a novel about, would have her book entitled The Girl Who Fell Asleep with Candy in Her Bed.

Oh, and there will be very little eating out (Chipotle bowls..no rice, Garbanzo...no rice/tabouleh, salads, etc). This is going to be rough...

So...there you have it, the plan, insomuch as I have it constructed.

As for today:

Weight~ A cool and steady.... 0

Workout~ Week 2, Couch to 10K, Day 1

Diet~

• Breakfast: Eggwhites with shredded low-fat cheese and salsa...mmmmm!
• Lunch: Turkey burger with cheddar
• Dinner: Garbanzo...grilled chicken, cucumber salad, and hummus
• Snacks: Celery and peanut butter, shredded low-fat Parmesan cheese

So far, so good....

Tomorrow..it begins!