Day 64, 65 and likely through the end of the week

My eye has me down for the count. I ran around all day yesterday looking for an Ophthalmologist to take care of it. It was not a fun experience and its going to take at least a week before I can get seen and they can just examine me -not excise the damn thing.

It's really irritating me. It itches so badly some times and it obstructs my vision. Okay, pity party over.

I've been researching what I'm going to do once I'm healthy again. I'm thinking of joining a gym that does step aerobics. I love step. I found a chain that's across the street from my job and then again a few miles from my home. Gonna look into it when I'm healthy.

Day 63

Nothing today:-(

Here comes the whining: Eye itched all day. Fever came and went. Just laid low. Going to the Ophthalmologist tomorrow to see when I can get scheduled to get this thing removed so that I can get back on track. And on the track!

Day 62

Only got in a short walk along a trail today. The eye itched and the mild fever came to play. Hoping to go on a hike for a couple of miles tomorrow with the kids.

Day 61

Went into the Health Clinic to finally get my eye looked at. It looks like I've been beat up, doesn't it! No, just sebaceous fluid trapped under my eyelid with not way out.

I'm on antibiotics. I'm a bit feverish, but I think I can still get some low impact work outs in this week. They say chalazions, which is what's going on with my eye, flare up due to stress. I'm sure its bad when you're stressed and don't realize that you're stressed. I'll aim for some yoga sessions this week.

Day 60

I've had this thing on my eye called a Chalazion for four weeks now. It's basically a pimple on my eyelid. It's gone down some, but its still pretty big. It started itching the past day or two and now I'm feeling feverish on one side of my face. I was trying to home remedy it, but gonna head into the clinic tomorrow morning.

Day 59

I didn't get any exercising done today.
And my food intake wasn't the best:( I stopped at a drive thru.
Then I ate two servings of potato chips.
Then I had a handful of chocolates.

No excuses. This is my space for accountability.

I'm going to look into Cross Fit. I recognize that I work best when I'm in a group setting and have other people checking me.

Day 57 & 58

Day 57
Tuesdays are always hard. I get up Mondays invigorated! But then Tuesday rolls around and I have a million and two errands to run with my kids. I can't get any work out in and then I feel guilty, even though I know I'm not going to be able to get a work out in.

Day 58
Then Wednesday shows up while I'm still feeling guilty about Tuesday and I inevitably ask myself "What's the point?" Plus I stepped on the scale and it said something mean to me. I'm so upset that it was mean because I've been doing a very good job with my calorie budget. I might be periodic. I don't know, I don't keep track anymore in my advanced age;-)

The weird (good?) thing is, that I'd been feeling fly the past couple of days. I wore a couple of outfits that were form fitting. I was digging my curves. But then that stupid scale!

At the very least, I will go for a walk.

Day 56

Taking a new approach this week. Instead of planning, I wake up and decide what physical activity I want to do each day. Today I wanted to get on the Cross Country Skier. So, I did. And I got back on my water intake. I feel pretty darn good!

Dry Spell

Day 53-55

I'm taking the weekend off. I'm feeling fatigued again. I'm sure its because I didn't keep up my water intake this week. Its the only part of my routine that changed. I have lost close to five pounds since I started this journey. That's nearly a pound a week. So its working. I just gotta keeping what works.

Day 52

Today was an uphill battle...literally. I'd planned to bike to work. Left the house without my helmet,
and took the bus instead. I just couldn't get past the nagging mom voice that scolded my son any time he left to ride his bike without his helmet.

But then I had to take a bike to get to an appointment two miles away. So, I grabbed a bike. Little did I know, the journey was uphill. I spent most of the time walking the bike to my destination!

Day 51

Whenever I make it plan about exercise it doesn't turn out as I expect. I was supposed to do T25 Total Body Circuit today. But I woke up feeling like doing step aerobics. So I popped in a Transfirmer DVD and had a great time stepping up on a 6", 8", and finally a 14" stair stepper.

Felt great all day!

I also had a really good bowel movement;-)

Day 50

Wow fifty! It's Tired Tuesday. I knew when I silenced my alarm clock this morning that if I didn't get up the workout wouldn't get done. And I was right. 

But I said I'd be kind to myself and I'm holding to that. About to take a salt bath and close my eyes. 

Day 49

MONDAY
T25 Cardio
Body Beast: BUILD Shoulders

So I didn't get up at 5:30am, but I did complete the work out! Sort of...

I did really well with Focus T25. Then I went into Body Beast Build Shoulders. I was shaky during the warm up! And I had to bow out half way through because my arms were shaking.

Might not be the best idea to double up on these two. At least not so close together. I might try again tonight to complete the Beast workout.

Day 48

Last week was not the best week. Other than biking, I didn't get any formal exercise done. Part of it was due to creative demands and frustrations. The other part was due to lack of motivation.

I can already tell that this is going to be another week of creative demands. Maybe I need to break out the yoga? I'm trying to decide between yoga and T25. I'm hoping to get myself up 30 minutes early every morning this week and get some exercise in.

I'm gonna think on it more today...

UPDATE
I've thought about it. I don't think my mind will have the patience to do yoga with my writing deadlines. I'm going to attempt to get up at 5:30am Monday-Friday of this week and do Focus T25.

MONDAY
T25 Cardio
Body Beast: BUILD Shoulders

TUESDAY
T25 Speed 1.0
Biking

WEDNESDAY
T25 Total Body Circuit
Body Beast: BUILD Back & Biceps

THURSDAY
Abs Intervals
Biking

FRIDAY
Lower Focus
Body Beast: BUILD Chest & Triceps

This is ambitious.
I will do my best.
I will be kind to myself.

Day 47

Plans thwarted, but I made time to hoola hoop!

Day 45 & 46

On Thursday I biked to work. 

Today I took s knee. But I'm eating really well!

Day 44 REST Day

I had had Sundays as my rest day, but I took that long bike ride.

I'll probably take another bike ride or hike with my kids this Mother's Day, so I'm taking some R&R today.

Day 43 Training Wheels Off

I biked to school today for my 8am class. Yep, got up and headed out at 7:20 and get there with ten minutes to spare.

The ride was there was great!

The ride back...was harder. It got really HOT!

I'll be back on the road tomorrow!

Day 41 & 42

That bike ride yesterday was awesome! I burned more calories than I ate with two hours of riding. I'm thinking of taking today off, or only walking. I've got a lot of writing to get done and I can't focus on anything else. Well see...

I lost over a pound last week;-) Something's working.

Day 40

Today is going to be a rest day for me.

A lot of times when I start a new workout regime, I get sick. I think some germ laying dormant inside me stirs and rears its ugly head.

Its happened.

I caught a fever and a fever blister. I'm not going to let it derail me. I've slept in this morning. But the day is too gorgeous. I'm gonna head out, probably take out a bike for a really short ride, and then come back and rest some more.

Day 39

Had a great workout doing BUILD Back and Biceps.

But even better than that, I signed up for the Capital Bike Share.

I only work four days a week. When I'm lazy, I drive which costs about $20 a week in parking. When I'm feeling eco-friendly, I ride the city bus which costs about $12 per week.

The Capital Bike Share costs a little over $7 per month to borrow a bike any time every day for 30 minute rides. There's a bike path that leads from my home in Arlington to the campus in Rosslyn. I can't wait to get started...gotta go get a helmet first.

Day 37 & 38

I'm really liking Beast Body. After the workout, I find that I'm not as sore and debilitated as when I begin a new cardio or circuit training workout. I've been taking rest days between each workout and that's been working really well. I don't want to overwork myself and get hurt or quit.

Wednesday I did BUILD Legs. I usually die the day after I doing lower body work, especially lunges. I feel great. Don't get me wrong, I FEEL the workout, but I'm not on my back or unable to walk up steps. I think if I was going day to day, back to back, it might be a different story.

I'm hoping to spend the month doing workouts every other day and then following the six days per week calendar in June, which is my month off from teaching; summer break.

I haven't hit 2800 calories any day. That's what Body Beast says I need to eat to get through the workouts. I don't think I've ever eaten that much purposefully. At least not health-consciously.

Day 35 & 36

Started Body Beast yesterday. Did the BUILD Biceps and Triceps workout. My favorite part, no running or hopping around.

I love aerobics, I do. My retirement plan is to be a Sweatin with the Oldies aerobics instructor. Seriously! But my body just doesn't want to jump right now. So I really appreciated the sitting down with bodybuilding.

I sat on my "bench" which was my The Firm Stair Climber on its incline. The heaviest weights I lifted was only 13 pounds -it felt like 100! I completed 90% of the workout on the first time. I've never done that with any other workout programs.

Today, I feel a slight usage in my shoulders, but no pain. That's a first time occurrence too. Now, I'm not giving up my love of aerobics. But this is a nice little break from it.

Today, I go down to the legs...

Day 34

Got in 30 minutes of Cross Country Skiing today for a 400 calorie burn. I barely ate 2000 calories though. I'm supposed to consume 2800 calories per day for Body Beast. I don't know that that's going to happen? The only time I eat that much is when I carb load.

I have to admit I'm a bit excited about taking a break from cardio for awhile. I'll keep my running schedule (30 minute runs 4x per week), but keep still and lifting...let's see how it goes.

Day 33

My new scale arrived today. The old one that I had for years gave up the ghost months ago. I told myself not to step on the new scale, but it was so pretty out of the package.

I stepped on it.
I stared at it.
I stepped off it.
I stepped back on it again.
I will not tell you what it said to me, but it was not what I was expecting.
Damn...

I don't understand how I lost an inch on my waist and gained weight?

I'm starting Body Beast next week. It tells me to eat more calories than I've been eating for the last 30 days. I'm not okay with that. At all. But eating less calories hasn't been working for me.

I'm on the hunt for a food scale, a stability ball, and heavier dumbells. My heaviest dumbells are 8 pounders (I hear you snorting Mrs. Reaves!). The lightest weights on Body Beast begin at 10 pounds.

I'm hoping to start the program on Friday. In the meantime, I'll get back on my running regimen.

Day 32

Instead of going to a Chinese Food Restaurant and ordering shrimp and broccoli like I wanted, I made it myself -with Tilapia instead of shrimp. And then I nixed the rice for a salad.

Day 31 First Step

I didn't take as many steps as I thought today. My goal was 10K. I got 6630.

Eating is still go very well. So I'm patting myself on the back for that.

We're going to start Body Beast next week. By we I mean me and Set, maybe Moya too. I'm just trying to figure out how to fit it into our busy schedules six days a week...

Day 30: Stepping It Up

I paused for a quick 5 minute cross training work out. Yes, only five minutes. But then I parked half a mile away from work so I'd have to walk to and from. So technically, I walked a mile today.

I'm going to start wearing a pedometer and am to get 10,000 steps every day so that I can feel good about myself while I'm on this writing binge.

My eating habits are fantastic right now! I should focus on that.

Day 29: Groundhog Day

I repeated yesterday's schedule. Lots of writing, no exercise:-(

It might be a Groundhog Week. I just can't calm my mind down to workout when I have to get work done. I am going to walk tomorrow. At the very least, I will walk tomorrow.

I'm thinking about purchasing this and putting it under my desk for days like this, which will surely happen again and again.

Day 28

I don't want to call today a FAIL because I accomplished so much. So much of every things except
exercise. Of any kind.

I was glued to my home desk chair, in my pajamas, until 1pm. Then I rushed to work to teach a class from 2-5pm (where I edited my story as students gave presentations). And then rushed back home to make dinner, and sit right back in my desk chair.

What I realize is that exercise is such a mental game. I have the time to work out. Even now, I have time to pop in a DVD or take a walk. But getting this scene done for my next book is more important to me right now.

I'm not gonna give myself a hard time, because my book is important to me. My books are what just allowed me to sign my kids up for martial arts class. I've been wanting to do it since we moved here, but I could never find money in the budget -NOVA is expensive! But I'm now making a few hundred dollars a month from my books, which feels awesome.

I ordered Body Beast last weekend for Set and I because I've been told by the males in my family that he needs to start lifting weights. I'm going to work that into the schedule. Perhaps next week. I'm not sure.

In any case, I'll try harder tomorrow to get my exercise on. That's why I have this blog. I'll be accountable every day for at least a year.

Day 27

I haven't gotten sick yet. Perhaps I won't. I've been dousing myself with herbal remedies: echinacea tea, colliodial silver, and Emergen-C. I'm exhausted from taking care of a sick, pre-teen, male though! I've spent the last two days also being very careful of what I eat, not wanting to have to taste something for a second time (if you know what I mean).

I've noticed that I didn't do well on my running program last week. I'm going to try and focus on that this week. I'm also considering switching out the aerobics for yoga. I lost an inch on my waist since this journey began! Don't know about poundage yet? My digital scale died. Just ordered a new one.

Day 26: Quarantine

There be illness in the Seneb household. Set caught a bug. Threw up on my carpet and comforter. Is running a fever and having low back pain. As the sole caretaker, I know I'm next. Don't expect much out of me for the next couple of days:-(

Day 25

Got some walking in today, but work (writing) was at the top of my list today.

Did well food wise as well -stayed in budget.

Noting much else to report.

Day 24

I'm holding to the pattern of day on, day off for my workouts. I worked hard yesterday, but took it easy today. Staying hydrated is really making a difference to my energy level, as well as my sleeping. I haven't awakened groggy all week!

I also usually get really sore the day after a workout. I feel great! I'm just running around a lot between my students at school and my kids at home.

Tomorrow is my day off. I've promised myself I won't go crazy trying to make up work outs. I am a little bummed at the slack in my running routine. I'll need to focus on that more next week.

Day 23 Food Budget

I look at food now in terms of how many calories will it cost me?

I had a great breakfast (protein shake), lunch (chicken breasts and broccoli) and snack (almonds) along with water infused with lemon, mint and cucumbers. I also got my workout done -well, yesterday's workout. But then I felt sleepy, which sucked because I had an awesome uninterrupted night of sleep.

Anyway, that led me to not want to make dinner. So I decided to stop off at Chick fil A. Before I went in, I used the My Fitness Pal app to see what I could have with the calories I had remaining. I choose a 12 piece nugget and small waffle fries. I still had enough left over for one of those warm, gooey, chocolate chip cookies. But they were 300 calories each! I couldn't allow myself to do it. Not when I had cookies at home that were half that.

In my head, I said to myself "That cookie is too expensive." the cookie was a dollar and change -if you had one before you know its worth that amount. But I wasn't talking about the cash. No, I was talking about the calories!

Day 22

Remember I talked about my obsession, craving, affair with potato chips. Well I almost caved today. They were in my hand in the convenience store. I walked around the entire store before I finally sat them down to exchange them for a bag of cashews. I get out the store and see that the cashews were more calories than the chips!

Can't win for trying!

My butt hurts today. I'm contemplating just laying on my belly for the rest of the day instead of walking/running and doing more squats.

The beautiful thing about doing this accountability blog is that if I choose to rest today, its okay. Because I have to come back tomorrow and face a new day/challenge.

Day 21

I got a sticker today!!

Workouts
-Hi Def Sculpt Express
-45+ abs (in Hi Def Sculpt Express)
-19+ minute brisk walk

And I came away with a 400+ calorie deficit!

GO ME!!!!

Day 20: Rest Day

It was hard to rest today.

But I did.

The infused water is really working. I felt a burst of energy yesterday!

Day 19 Water Works

This is how I plan to tackle my water deficiency. A water bottle that allows you to infuse fruit, vegetable and herbal flavors. Today's concotion: lemon, cucumber, basil water. 

Day 18 Energy Deficiency

I'm still feeling sluggish and fatigued. I was assuming it was the low calorie diet and increased exercise. But I might be wrong. It might be that I'm dehydrated and vitamin deficient.

I googled "how to get more energy." An article on Web MD outlined each and every symptom I was feeling.

• I've been fatigued all week.
• I've been craving carbs -did you read my potato chip post?
• I've been skipping meals -but I often skip meals in favor of snacking on energy and meal replacement bars. Mainly because I'm rushing around. More often because I'm just not hungry at the prescribed meal time hours of breakfast (8am), lunch (noon), and dinner (6pm).

The article suggested I first try to get 8 glasses of water per day. I'm going to start there.

I'm also going to research sources of Magnesium and Omega-3 fatty acids. The article says women notoriously get too few of their daily need.

My current multivitamin only has 50mg of Magnesium, when we need 400mg each day! And it doesn't even list Omega-3 fatty acids at all.

We can get magnesium from peanut butter, green leafy veggies, and whole grains. I eat nuts every day. I eat green leafy veggies a number of times each week. But I try and stay away from most grains be they whole or not. My belief is that grains aren't kind to my waist line, and when I eat them I have trouble sleeping. I did an elimination diet last year and saw that when I went gluten free I slept better and had less mood swings.

Omegas are in fish like tuna, mackerel and salmon. I like tuna, but not enough to have a few times a week. I don't like mackerel or salmon at all. So I should probably look at a supplement.

Day 18 Down for the Count

Gotta call an audible. My body is exhausted. I felt the tickle in my shoulders of oncoming sickness.

I'm gonna climb in the bed right now and call it a day so that I can continue tomorrow.

I'm trying not to feel guilty about it. I have that stupid calendar on my wall and now its going to have a gap in smiley face stickers:-(

Day 17 Chip Attack

Do you dream of potato chips?
I do.
Nearly every day, sometimes at every meal.

I didn't have any today. They're too expensive -calorie-wise. They're about 150 calories per handful, and I can never have just one handful. No, I need to have the whole bag.

So I had a KIND bar instead. Thankfully, it was satisfying. But it didn't stop the dreaming...

Got all of my work done today:
-45 sit ups
-17+ minutes of walking

BLUE STAR FOR ME!

Day 15: Reward System

I love stickers! You'd think I was still in grade school.

I felt really tired all day long. I got home. Laid down for thirty minutes. Then I got up and did my work out. I earned that green smiley face!

Day 13 & 14

DAY 13
I managed to stay on my meal plan on Easter Sunday at my Grandmother's house surrounded by candy, chocolates, and sugar saturated foods!

I've deemed Sunday a Rest Day. It was hard to not do any exercise because I want the results. But I chilled. I could feel the work I'd been doing -especially in the abs.

DAY 14
Started Monday off right with my first FIRM workout in years! I love those Southern belles.

"You only want your hand to wave bye, not your whole arm."

I love it! I burned nearly 500 calories with that one workout, which included my 100 ab exercises for the Abs Challenge. Still gotta get in a 15 minute walk for my half marathon training, which is another 80 calorie burn. Its going to be a good day!

Day 12

Went a few calories over today. Began my monthly chocolate craving, if you know what I mean.
But I shaved 30 seconds off my mile run!

Day 11

Can you believe I made my exercise and diet calorie count, but not my writing word count!

Spent the day watching Torchwood while doing my daughter's hair. Then ate dinner at a girlfriend's house. I was worried that the pasta dinner would be a huge calorie dent, but it was only 280 calories!

I got the 120 Abs in by doing the bicycle. Had to break at 60, breath, and start again!

Day 10: Week in Review 1

I've done pretty well this week, if I do say so myself.

My Fitness Pal

This is my net daily calorie diary, which means it adds up my food intake and deducts any exercising. That Monday, March 30th, was our first night of vacation when I spent the day in the room with a fever and a mini-fridge full of food.

Does anyone else crave potato chips? I dream about chips. I buy the healthiest kind. Organic Kettle chips. Doesn't matter. A handful is still about 100 calories! And I can't have just one handful:-( That day, I had half the bag. But then I opened up the second bag...

On a bright note, My Fitness Pal says that if I continue on this streak, I'll loose close to ten pounds in five weeks. We'll see...

I also started a Multi Vitamin today. Mainly because I haven't been feeling well and didn't feel like cooking a balanced meal.

Exercise

I'm enjoying the Abs Challenge. Sure its only the second day, but I like having a numerical goal to meet.

I ran today for the first time in months. And I nearly cried. I ran an 18-minute mile! That's horribly awful. I was doing 12-minute miles last Fall. That's a priority now. Getting my speed back.

Day 9: The Return

Woke up and got my sit ups on!

Then walked the underground caverns of Luray for 60 minutes.

Also did really well on the diet!

A great day!

Day 8

Did well on the food today. Then we did mini golf for 30 minutes. That should count towards the 13 minutes of run/walking. 

Day 7: staycation

Made it to the indoor water park resort. Remembered hiking boots for the underground caves but not the tennis shoes for the gym! Went into the enclosed park where the air was filled with chlorinated water. I only lasted 15 minutes before becoming nauseous. I'm now laying in the hotel room with a case of the dizzied. When I feel better I'm gonna walk in place for ten minutes because like I said, I forgot my tennis shoes and can't go to the gym! And I not only forgot my Kindle charger. I forgot to charge my Kindle! It's at a quarter life. 

Off to a hilarious start!

Day 6

I'm still down for the count. Nose is running less. Fever isn't so hot. But I'm still feeling weary and fatigued. This is probably a mild flu and not allergies. The good thing is that I was able to have a tight reign over my diet today. Though I was pretty immobile, I was able to save 500 calories while still getting high quality foods inside me.

Here are my goals for the week:

Begin Ab's Challenge

Wednesday, April 1st: 30
Thursday, April 2nd: 75
Friday, April 3rd: 120
Saturday., April 4th: 50
Sunday, April 5th: Rest

Begin Jeff Galloway Conditioning Program

I ran the Jeff Galloway Method for my First Half Marathon. I followed his First Timer's Program for Completion. Now I want to follow his program for Time. I conveniently forget what my time was for the first half marathon. Let's just say I wasn't last, but I could see the last runners coming up behind me!

The Galloway Method encourages walking in the midst of the running. I want to run at a 12 minute per mile pace. With that in mind, I'll aim for a 2:1 ratio. I'll run two miles and then walk a mile. I say miles now, but I will be aiming for running 2 minutes then walking a minute until I get my running foundation back up.

*My race goal for a foundation is to run 5 miles straight without needing to walk. So if I run 5 miles, then walk 1 mile, I'm already halfway done the half marathon! I'll just need to run another five miles, walk one more mile, and then run the final mile and a quarter! Brilliant right!

WEEK ONE
Mon: 10 min run/walk
Tues: 15 min walk
Wed: 13 min run/walk
Thurs: 18 min walk
Fri: off
Sat: 1 mile run/walk
Sun: off/walk

I head off for vacation tomorrow. Luckily the resort we're staying at has a fitness center. So, I'll be on the treadmill on Monday and Tuesday. We'll be hiking through underground caverns on Wednesday, so I'll easily get my thirteen minutes in. But I may just get up before the kids and run around the hotel before we head out for our cave, maze, and rope climbing adventures.

I downloaded the Blogger app on my phone, so I'll be updating.

Day 5: On the Ropes

I just googled "best exercises to do while sick." Like I said before, I only get sick when I do something new. And then I get derailed. I was not gonna get derailed this time! I have a stair stepper at home. I climbed for exactly 88 seconds and my heart beat so fast I felt like I'd run a marathon.

I'd get really derailed if I got sicker, so I'm gonna sit down and not fight whatever's running through me.

But for those who are interested, walking, jogging and qi gong are best when under the weather. However, they give such low calorie rewards. Twenty minutes of any of them only yields about 100 calories.

Day 4: Spring Is Here

I didn't grow up with allergies. They were gifted to me with age. After my workout yesterday I began to run a mild fever. I often shake up stagnant germs in my body when I begin any new eating or exercising regime. So I chalked it up to that. But then I noticed, it only got bad near an open window or when I was outside.

I was about to call in sick for the exercising, but I didn't. I got off my butt...and then sat back down -on a stationary bike. I've never been attracted to this exercise. It didn't seem like you were doing anything. Just sitting there working your legs. Boy was I wrong. It was like doing crunches for thirty minutes straight!

*Warning: Potential TMI** Warning***
I know I'm going to have the best bowel movement of the week tonight!

I also downloaded the My Fitness Pal app. And I love it. It recognizes so many of the boxeterian, packaged vegetarian, foods I eat. It told me that after my food intake of 1837 calories and my exercise which burned 309 calories, I have a deficit of 522 calories!

Remember, I'm trying to get a deficit of 500 calories each day through shrinking food portions and increasing exercise.

Of course I'm an over achiever and got an extra 22 calories in the black!

Day 3

Tilapia and Coucous with Veggies

Walked the track for an hour today. Ignored the distance and focused on the time because I know I can walk a mile in under 15 minutes. That means I likely did four miles.

I'm looking for an app to help me include a food diary on the blog. This calculator says I need to limit my daily caloric intake to 2000 calories per day.

This site discusses how you need to burn (or lose) an addition 3500 calories per week, or 500 calories per day to lose one pound each week.

So far today I had egg whites and turkey for breakfast: @250 calories.

• A Slimfast snack bar: 100 calories

• Chai Tea: 120 calories

• 2 Cups of Tea: 100 calories

• Glass of Orange Juice: 100 calories
• Powerbar: 240 calories
• Veggie Coucous & Baked Tilapia: @500 calories

And I'll probably have a KIND Bar and a cup of Bedtime tea for another 250 calories. For a grand of close to 1600 calories.

My walking burned about 300 calories. So that looks like I need to lose an additional 2800 calories this week to lose a pound. Interesting. Let's see if it works.

Day 2: Miscalculation

So the track I've been walk/running for the past two years is only 1/6 a mile and not 1/4! So all my calculations for 2 years is off.

I didn't manage my time well today and was only able to do 1 mile 1&1/2 on the old way of thinking.

I ate well today. Smoothie for breakfast. Slimfast snack bar -I'm addicted to those things. Marinated chicken breasts, lentils and rice for lunch. And I'll have a Strawberry Slimfast shake for dinner -I'm addicted to those too.

My energy levels were consistent, which is a plus since I've been feeling groggy all month. Wow! The benefits of exercise take effect immediately! Especially when you start slow and not jump into a crazy regime.

Pat on the back for me!

The Firm Cardio Weights Workout Calendar

21 Day Ab Challenge

I'll be embarking on the 31 day abs challenge in hopes of getting ready for swim season.

Here's the schedule.

Day 1: Reflection

You ever feel an itch, like you're supposed to be doing something.
I feel that itch from time to time.
I've been feeling it for a long time.
I have to do something.

I've packed on some weight. Okay a good deal of weight. Being a woman of color, chocolate looks good when its rich. But it doesn't feel good. I don't feel good. So I'm going to do something about it. But first I have to set myself up for success.

So I've started a blog.
My goal is to post every day for a year...and hopefully beyond.
My goal is to get down to 159 pounds by my 40th birthday. I know that's a specific number. I looked really good at 160, but I spent half my life in the 150's. So 159 is my compromise.

I'm a very goal-oriented person. I'm also a very competitive person. I've set some goals. I need to figure out how others to measure myself against -can't help that quirk of my personality. I was born with it. Its not going anywhere.

Any way, goals:

MARCH
From today, March 24th, 2015, until the March 31st I will walk one to three miles every day. Why am I doing that? Because one of my goals is to run a half marathon by the end of the year. My base the first time I ran a half marathon was three miles. I want it to be five miles for my second marathon.

APRIL
The Firm
31 Day Abs Challenge: Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans

MAY
Transfirmer
Monthly Challenge: Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans

JUNE - JULY
Focus T25
60 Day Bikram Yoga Challenge

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER
Insanity

OCTOBER
Half Marathon

NOVEMBER
Triatholon
Planksgivin: Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans

DECEMBER
I don't know yet?

TODAY
I got my three miles in on the Jefferson Community track. I spotted myself in the aerobics mirror. I didn't look so fly. One of the main reasons is because I was wearing a mumu. The decision to go to the gym was a last minute one, like I said, I'd been itching for a while to DO SOMETHING. So I dropped off my son and a friend to their Boy Scout meeting, then I crossed the street to the Community Gym and walked the track for 45 minutes. There were a lot of hot guys on the basketball court. They all gave me a matronly smile. Eww.

Yeah, I gotta get my fly back.