Page Title

Introduction Text I am so close to reaching my goal I can taste it! I've decided that I'm going to stop using the scale to judge my success. My new goal is to get under 20% Body Fat by the time school resumes for my children in the fall, August 18th. I am currently at 25% Body Fat, but I know as I tighten up my diet, things will fall into place. Why has this time been different than the two times I attempted Weight Watchers? 1. I use visualization every single day. I am truly changed because I am able to visualize the changes I want to see in myself physically, emotionally and spiritually. I take time every day as often as possible (even sometimes DURING my workout) to visualize. The negative self-talk as been replaced with only positive thoughts and words and so joy has been replaced. The anger, frustration and sadness have disappeared. 2. I've learned that I am much too competitive. I'd to go to a WW meeting where a woman who does nothing more than switch from soda to water loses 10 lbs and get mass kudos from the group while I get up and walk/run each morning, shuffle my four kids from here to there so I can get to the gym, workout for an hour or more, keep strict count of every singe point and lose .2 lbs. Heartbreaking. Yes, I realize she had much more weight to lose than I did. Yes, I understand that most of that was waterweight. Yes, consciencely I knew that I was losing the right way and that I'd be able to keep it up, but it got old real quick. 3. I love that this is MY weight loss journey and mine alone. Although I entered a local Biggest Loser contest and was ultimately voted to be the captain, it became painfully clear after a few weeks that you cannot motivate others. Every weight loss journey is actually a trip into the core of who you are. You will learn a lot about yourself (some of them you will like and others you will not). It's important to take the time to listen to your inner voice through your journey and be flexible to change the things that are not working. 4. I have to plan just about everything. I cook a huge pot of steel cut oatmeal each Sunday night that I seperate into little containers. Then, each morning, I just pop them in the microwave for a few minutes with a little fat free milk. I plan out our weekly meals 2 - 3 weeks ahead of time and post each week on the refridgerator. This way, I can look at our familyl calendar and know when I need to do a crockpot meal, marinate food in the morning, cook someting relatively light if the kids have late night sports practices, etc. This also gives my husband the opportunity to know how many calories dinner will be so he can eat within his calorie range on the front end of the day. I even go so far as to make sure my tea kettle is filled at night, I put my coffee mug on the counter filled with a tea bag and 2 Xylitol packets, I put my walking clothes and my workout clothes out, I fill 3 big water bottles (one for after my walk, one for at the gym and one for after the gym) which give me 1/2 a gallon of water before lunch, and I make sure my gym bag is packed with everything I need. 5. I drink 1 gallon of water a day. Period. No, I don't particularly like water, but I have learned that I can tolerate it room temperature instead of cold with a little lemon and some Xylitol (a natural sweetener). 6. I have solicited the help of my friends family and neighbors. I make exercise dates with anyone for any sport as long as it fits my schedule. I have to know that someone is waiting for me so that I don't decide to get on the computer and check my Face Book or catch up on my DVR entries. I walk just about every morning with my neighbor from 6:00 AM until 7:00 AM. I have three girls who text me each morning to make sure I'm meeting them for one class or another at the gym. They even set up my bench or save my bike for spinning if I'm running late. I love those girls. I have the girls that I'm training for the mini-tri with who bike/run every Saturday morning at 7 AM. I've joined a Tri mentoring group and will be swimming every other Sunday morning with my mentor (swim coach). I have two neighbors training for different Tri's who I'll begin biking with here in my neighborhood next week and lastly, I joined a running club that meets several times a week. 7. I love SparkPeople and helping to encourage others to meet their fitness goals. It is so very important to use solid concrete goals to work towards. I want to run a 5K isn't good enough. How about...I want to run a 5K in XYZ time and feel like I can run even farther? Be specific, concentrate on seeing yourself attaining that goal and you body will soon follow. You'll be amazed! I still haven't worked out my Tri training schedule, but I am officially signed up and an official card caring member of the Tri Mentoring Group. I can't wait to meet even more fitness minded women through the Tri Mentoring Group. I think surrounding myself with people who are health conscience and willing to try new things no matter how old they are will help keep me focused on my goals. Unfortunately, many of my friends who are still emailing me about going out for a drink or getting something to eat probably won't be too happy about my new lifestyle, but I'm OK with that. I've finally decided I'm worth it, I don't care what other people think about my fitness routine, I don't pay attention to the haters who notice I've lost weight, but can't bring themselves to mention it or congratulate me, I'm loving getting dressed in the morning again and I am once again enjoying life!! Heidi ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Below is my initial Profile Page Introduction. So many wonderful things have happened since it was written, but I didn't want to delete it so that someone else who needed to read it would have the opportunity to do so. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Day By Day: Oh, the next 6 months are going to be absolutely remarkable!! I'm so excited... I've finally stopped making excuses, stopped putting my family's needs in front of my health, and stopped whining about having to do the "work" to get healthy. I did not want to give up my favorite "binge" foods, I did not want to stop "treating" myself with my glass or two or three of wine after I put the kids to bed. I did NOT want to count calories and I made every excuse in the world for not being consistent with my workouts. I'm not a morning person, I'm just too tired, I can't seem to drag myself away from my pillow...oh, the excuses, oh the whining, oh the B.S. that I used to keep myself stuck right where I was. I wanted my husband to join me on the journey. After all, it would be so much easier if we were doing this together. What am I going to do about new clothes? I just can't afford to buy a new wardore. How completely stupid was that comment? Oh, when I reach my goal weight I AM going shopping...let the chips fall where they may! So, I got serious with my journey on November 1st...the day after Halloween. Why is that significant? Well, I have four children so that means I had four HUGE bags of candy sitting in my pantry on November 1st. Between November 1st and January 1st I lost a total of 20 lbs! Yes, with a MOUND of Halloween candy calling my name, Thanksgiving, Christmas (and an average of 2 parties each weekend in December) and New Years Eve, I still LOST 20 lbs! If I can make that kind of progress (primarily counting calories) during possibly the worst possible "dieting" time of the year, I can do ANYTHING!! How did I do it? I started counting calories and stick to 1200 calories each day NO MATTER WHAT! I protect my weight loss efforts like a Pit Bull and don't allow others to push me off course! February 21st I entered a local Biggest Loser Contest and have added weights and cardio to my weekly routine. I have, therefore, upped my calorie intake to 1500 and may have to add even more calories in the upcoming weeks because of the amount of calories I'm burning and muscle I'm adding. In three short weeks (February 21 - March 14th) I've lost 11.7 lbs of FAT and gained 5.3 lbs of muscle!! Fantastic, huh? My goal is 18% body fat. I've gone from 40.4% body fat on November 1st to 29.4% body fat as of March 14th. Whoo hoo!! Here's my weekly workout schedule as of 4/16/09: Monday's 6:00 AM - 7:00 AM Type: Cardio Duration 45 minutes Description: 3 mile power walk 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Type: Cardio/Weight Lifting Duration: 60 Minutes Description: Circuit/Group Power Class @ Gym + Abs 10:30 - 11:00 AM Type: Cardio Duration: 30 minutes Description: Deep Incline Intervals on Treadmill (15% @ 3 mph - 9% @ 4 mph) 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM Type: Weight Lifting / Calves Description: Calf Press, Calf Raises (45-degree and donkey), Single Leg Calf Raises 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM Type: Cardio Duration: 60 Minutes Description: P90X - Cardio X Tuesday's 6:00 AM - 7:00 AM Type: Cardio Duration 45 minutes Description: 3 mile power walk 9:30 AM - 10:15 AM Type: Cardio Duration: 45 Minutes Description: Spinning Class @ Gym Type: Abdominal Work Duration: 15 Minutes Description: Ab Class Following Spinning @ Gym Wednesday's 6:00 AM - 7:00 AM Type: Cardio Duration 45 minutes Description: 3 mile power walk 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Type: Cardio/Weight Lifting Duration: 60 Minutes Description: Circuit/Group Power Class @ Gym + Abs 10:30 - 11:00 AM Type: Cardio Duration: 30 minutes Description: Deep Incline Intervals on Treadmill (15% @ 3 mph - 9% @ 4 mph) 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM Type: Weight Lifting / Calves Description: Calf Press, Calf Raises (45-degree and donkey), Single Leg Calf Raises 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM Type: Cardio Duration: 60 minutes Description: P90X Kempo X Thursday's 6:00 AM - 7:00 AM Type: Cardio Duration 45 minutes Description: 3 mile power walk 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Type: Cardio Duration: 45 Minutes Description: Spinning Class @ Gym Type: Abdominal Work Duration: 15 Minutes Description: Ab Class Following Spinning @ Gym Friday's 6:00 AM - 7:00 AM Type: Cardio Duration 45 minutes Description: 3 mile power walk 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Type: Cardio/Weight Lifting Duration: 60 Minutes Description: Circuit/Group Power Class @ Gym + Abs 10:30 - 11:00 AM Type: Cardio Duration: 30 minutes Description: Deep Incline Intervals on Treadmill (15% @ 3 mph - 9% @ 4 mph) 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM Type: Weight Lifting / Calves Duration: 30 minutes: Description: Calf Press, Calf Raises (45-degree and donkey), Single Leg Calf Raises 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM Type: Cardio Duration: 60 minutes Description: P90X - Plyometrics (Jump Training) Saturday's - REST DAY! Type: Stretch (Much Needed) Duration: 60 minutes Description: P90X - X Stretch Sunday's - FAMILY DAY!! Type: Cardio Duration: 2.5 Hrs Description: Mountain Hike (6 miles) with the family TOTAL EXERCISE MINUTES: TOTAL CARDIO MINUTES: TOTAL STRETCH MINUTES: TOTAL WALK MINUTES: TOTAL CORE/ABDOMINAL MINUTES: CURRENT TOTAL CALORIES BURNED: CURRENT TOTAL CALORIES CONSUMED/WEEK: I'll update these totals soon. I'm in the market for a HRM so that I can more accurately guage my calories burned. Until then, I'll just leave it blank.

EXERCISE MINIMUMS: P90X 6 Days / Week C25K 3 Days / Week ----- PHYSICAL GOALS: Body Fat %: 47.31% to 18% 3/14/09: 27.8% Weight: 185.9 to 125 lbs 4/16/09 = 140.6 BMI: 33 to 22.5 or less 4/16/09: 25 Waist-to-hip-ratio: 0.91 to 0.6 Resting Heart Rate: 81 to 50 or less Waist Relaxed: 39 to 20 4/16/09 = 32" Hips: 44 to 34 4/16/09 = 38" Waist to hip ratio: 0.9 to 0.6 ------- FITNESS GOALS: **Ability to do 20 unassisted pull-ups **Ability to do 30 decline push-ups **Ability to do 25 push-ups on toes. **Ability to run 3 miles without walking in under 25 minutes.

Ultimate Goal: 18% Body Fat 5 small meals daily - Each meal includes some protein Run 3 days/wk - C25K **1 "free" meal per week. Sunday night "Family Night" with the kiddies. SUNDAY: 1. Cook ahead for the upcoming week. 2. P90X - X Stretch 3. Take a nap and refuel for upcoming week! :)

I'm originally from the Midwest. I currently live in the beautiful state of North Carolina. I have been married to the love of my life for 14 years. We've been together for 22 years and have four beautiful children (12, 9, 8 and 5).

I love to hang out with my family, cook, work in the yard, maintain my herb garden, clip coupons, find new ways to organize things around the house, entertain, read (mostly self help and diet books, go figure?), and exercise!!

Add a Link Height: 5'2.5" ---------- Goals: August 1st - 18% Body Fat August 23rd - Mini-Triathlon September - Join co-ed soccer league October - 8K November - 10 K December - Fitness Cruise with Husband. January - look for another mini-tri for 2010
Save Changes