What I got out of last night's biggest loser show

I absolutely LOVE watching the show Biggest Loser!!! Last night I had a few things that I feel like I really learned. I will just say them how I think of them. First I was very upset about the outcome of the vote from the week previous. I was very frustrated with the lady who ended up staying. I felt like she was not giving it her all and that she didn't deserve to be in that amazing environment that so many people had tried to be in. (I was thinking how much i love shawn he is the most handsome,hot,kind,loving,sweet,strong,amazing,most besttest man ever in the world!!!! and I not just saying that because he is mine forever.) this was just inserted by Shawn because I got distracted when my visiting teacher came over. I had to leave it because he is just so cute. :-) Back to my thoughts... I was honestly feeling mad that she was still there. She was constantly whining and she just didn't seem like she even pushed herself. Well, she stayed on because there were people who voted for her to stay. This week there was a 180 switch in how she was. It was like she had decided that she could do it and that people believed in her and I was very impressed by her this week. She worked so hard and her attitude was one of self belief. I find myself doing the same thing I was so bugged by... sometimes I am just a whiner because I just don't feel like doing what I know I need to do. The next thing that hit me was the Father and Son team. They fell below the yellow line which put them up for elimination. They were both so upset and they each felt like they had failed each other. I was touched by the way the Dad pleaded with everyone to keep his son there at the Ranch. I realized in a very real sense how much I feel that way for everyone who is participating in this competition with me. I want so strongly for each and every person to have the weight loss success they need. We all have to do our part on our own, but we all want the best for each other. The main thing that I loved was mentioned in Kristina's last post on her blog about Dan and how he ran for 5 minutes. He had a break through and with the help of Jillian he was able to make it through. Jillian is one hard core trainer. She knew that Dan could do it even though he kept saying I can't breath. She said, "But you are." I loved how that came across. The idea of going past what you think you can do and just pushing so hard for something you want so bad. I have felt like I can't lose weight, but if I put it how Jillian did to Dan, I Am.

Q. How do you eat an Elephant?

A. One bite at a time.

Wisdom

Ok, so I have been thinking about what I posted last, and I realized that I didn't sum it up. I realized that what I have been thinking lately is that life is precious, and I need to do everything in my power to stay alive as long as I can. By becoming more healthy I create a better place for my spirit to be. I am so happy to say I am down 2 pounds this week. I really didn't think the scale was going to show that, but it did!!! :-) I'm so close to my 10 pounds for this month!!! Goals rock!!!

Okay, I think this post is going to be very personal, so be prepared. This post is very much for me so that I can reflect back at a later point and hopefully be able to gain some wisdom. I originally wanted to do this challenge because I realized that I have to take control of my health. Right around the time this all got put together was a time when Mom was having a cancer scare and I realized that she has done so much to be a healthy person. I am so happy that she is fine, and that she has been such an amazing example to so many people in so many different ways. Most recently I have been struggling with my feeling of being so far away from home (Sandpoint). My Grandma Marks is going through some of what seem like will be final days, and my heart aches that I can not be there to hug her and tell her that I love her just one more time. I know she has lived a good life and has been without Grandpa for such a long time. I feel like she is ready to go on to the next stage of the plan. I wish there were some way that I could tell that sweet woman how important she is to me. She has helped me through so many struggles that I have had. I remember when I was in high school and I used to go over and visit Grandma at Ridley Village. There was a period when I was only eating like a few baby carrots a day or some ridiculous little amount of food. I remember Grandma asking me about it and I told her I was afraid of getting fat. I knew that at the time I wasn't fat, but I was afraid that because of my DNA I was destined to become a fat person. I remember crying to her about that and she said that it isn't fat it is just fluff. :-) I know that isn't true, but I think what she was telling me was that it didn't really matter if I became what I perceived to be fat. I think part of what she was telling me was that it isn't what our body is like that is important, the way we treat other people and how we live is what is important. I do feel like that is truth, and the way we live is the most important thing. However, I feel like in order for me to live my life to the fullest I really need to be healthy. I need to take control of myself when I just don't feel like doing what I need to do. I know I can do it, and I have so many people who are there to support me. I will miss my Grandma very very much. I have been debating whether or not I should post this, but it is part of what is really going on for me right now, and I have to deal with the now. I think I have spent a lot of my time worrying about my Dad and how he is doing with his Mom's current state. I have been focusing less on what I need to do and letting a lot of my emotions get in the way of making good decisions. I have shed a lot of tears in the last week, and I know that it is okay to have feelings, but it is very important not to let my feelings stop me from doing what I need to do. This too shall pass

WHAT?!!!

So yesterday I got on the scale and I was back up to 199. I was feeling really mad and then I remembered I had taken my measurements one week earlier on Sunday...so, I decided I would measure again. To my surprise and amazement, I was down 3 inches in my waist, 1/2 inch in each upper arm, 1 1/2 inches around my hips, and 1/2 inch around each upper thigh. That's a total of 6 1/2 inches in one week. :-) Ok, so this week I may have to report a gain, but I have decided that if tomorrow morning comes and I do I am totally fine with it because I exercised, and lost a lot of inches. I know that muscle weighs more than fat, so if my body has burned fat and built muscle that is what needs to happen. I'm not going to let it discourage me from doing my exercises as good as this last week and eating way better than I did this last week. I feel like it is very important for me to report when I am frustrated because it forces me to work through my negative feelings and move right on.

AGHHHH!!!

I'm totally frustrated because today I went shopping with my niece and my sister in law. While we were out we went to lunch and I ate so much that I shouldn't have. I have had a very bad week as far as my eating goes. I have been great about my exercise, but I don't feel like that is going to be enough to make up for my bad behavior eating wise when it comes time to weigh on Tuesday. I feel like I let my guard down and just did whatever I wanted. I need to re-evaluate what I really want. I need to get it set in my mind that it is just as important what I put into my body as it is what energy I put out when I exercise. Good energy in... good energy out. I know I only tripped up a little and it was just a week, but just a week puts me behind by one week from my goals. I can fix it with time, but I want to finish this as soon as I can.

Decide, Commit, Succeed

Today when I was getting ready to select which workout I would do I noticed that just before the workout menu comes up on the TV there is a Brand for Beach Body and under it it says, "Decide, Commit, Succeed" I have decided that that will be my new motto. I feel like I have honestly decided to take this journey for real. I have shown that I can stay committed to it, and I know that I will succeed. I may not be succeeding to what other's standards are for me, but who really cares about that. I like what my brother Jeff said in his blog about not allowing other people to tell you if you are successful or not. Only we can measure our successes and failures. It reminds me of an old story Dad used to tell about the three kids who are on the swing set. There is one who is just kinda going slow and the others are going faster and higher. The one turns to the others and says look at me, I'm keeping up with Tommy. Then Tommy says look at me, I'm keeping up with Suzie. Then there is the little one going her own pace and she says look at me, I'm keeping up with myself. It may have been a little different than that, but that is basically how it goes. I like to remember that right now, because the other people who are in this competition with me may be losing more weight and inches, but I am not really in it to compare myself to them, I am in this to keep up with myself, and I need to be reminded of that sometimes.

JAM JAM JAM

I love to Jam!!! I have been having so much fun exercising. WHAT?! That's right fun! I am so happy that I have found something I really enjoy doing. I feel so good after I am done. (and while I am doing) I only did the 20 minute workout last night and I felt like it only took like 2 minutes. I did 40 minutes today and I think that is about what I should be doing on a daily basis.

I have been a little more lax on the eating part of what I am doing, but I don't think I have done anything too extreme that I will have a problem.

This morning I was putting on a pair of pants that I really hate, because they are always feeling tight and yucky. Well, I didn't have to suck in my belly fat and I just did them up. I was totally comfortable all day at work. Of course I still changed into my Yoga pants when I got home, but I was comfortable at work. :-)

I have noticed some muscle definition in my legs that I haven't noticed in a long time, and here is what is gross, I had some cellulite on my arms and it is almost completely gone!!!

I still have a long way to go, but it feels really good to see some progress. I am proud of myself for sticking to this and making the adjustments that I need to make so it can work for me in my life.

barely down

This morning was weigh in, and I am only down 2 oz. this week. I feel a little discouraged, but I also have had a reality check. I let myself excuse myself from exercising a few times this last week. I also allowed myself to have some food that I know is off limits. I know that even though I am down a little I am heading in the right direction. This morning while I was doing my Turbo Jams the instructor said something to the effect that this is your workout, you get out of it what you put into it. I feel like I will get to my weight goal, but it is going to be up to me how fast or slow I get there. It is frustrating to work hard all week but slack off a little and how easily that ruins the entire week of work. I have been giving myself Tuesdays kind of off, not exercising, having a diet coke, etc. I decided this morning that I will not be doing that any more. If I am serious about this, and I am, then I have to get it into gear and push.

Measuring up

Well, I finally did it last night. I took my measurements. It is kinda crazy, my left thigh is only like 2 and a half inches smaller than my waist was in high school. Makes me feel huge. I wish I would have taken my measurements even at the beginning of this week, because since I started my Turbo Jam DVDs I feel tighter. My sweater is loose today and it feels good. I am also wearing a skirt I haven't been able to wear in forever. I had a good breakfast this morning and I am taking a good snack to church. I have planned what I can have for a quick lunch after church too, so this weekend is better than last. :-)

Give Me More

So last night I did my Turbo Jam Learn and Burn DVD again. I had so much fun that when it was over I did the Turbo Sculpt for another 40 minutes, so that was a total of 60 minutes last night. It felt good.

I love it!!!

I tried my Turbo Jam Learn and Burn DVD last night. I loved it!!! The workout was only 20 minutes, but I was totally sweating by the end. I am so excited to do the rest of the set. It will take me awhile to be strong enough to move on to the next level, but I feel great. The thing I probably like about it the most is that you are working your abs the entire time, and you are always on your feet. I'll keep you posted as I keep working.

TURBO JAMS!!!!

My turbo jams finally came!!!! I guess the wait was worth it. It took so long for them to come that I called and they finally reimbursed my shipping charges. :-) Anyway, I read all about it last night and I am really looking forward to trying it out today. I didn't get up early this morning because I knew I wanted to spend some extra time learning my new workout moves. I am going to take my measurements today. I'm a little nervous about it, but at the same time it will be good because then in a month or so I will take them again and I will have another way to see how far I have come and how much less I have left to do. :-) I have been doing ok with my eating. I think I need to make sure I have my snacks so my energy stays up. I have been trying a lot of new yummy recipes and I like that. I get so bored with the same stuff over and over again. My Turbo Jams came with a 10 day eating plan and I need to make a grocery list so I can get a few of the things I don't have. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I do have most of what I need. I'll let you know how my workout goes tonight.

P.S. The weekend was rough, but I'm over it.

1/2 the steps

So I ended up only doing half the stairs I was thinking I would do. I had to take a potty break and when I went in the office Mendi was dying of boredom so she went and delivered some more then Cori did hers. I am seriously nervous about the weekend. I had such a hard time last weekend. I need to really figure out my plan for each day. I know I can do it, I just have a hard time when I am either around home all day or if I am out and I get hungry.

Where did the day go?

I don't know where my day went yesterday, but by 7:30 I was in bed reading my new cook book. I did get up at 5:00 and I did a Biggest Loser DVD I did the warm up, functional flexibility (my favorite) and the cool down. I felt like I should do more and I think in the future after I finish doing that workout I will go and use either the treadmill or the elliptical machine at my gym. It is after all only across the parking lot from our apartment. :-) I ate really well yesterday. I have changed my focus a little bit on my eating. I am focusing a little more on counting my calorie intake. I really want a heart rate monitor that tells you how many calories you are burning, but I will have to save for awhile the one I want is and F6 Polar Heart Rate Monitor and it is of course pink. You can google it if you want to see it. :-) Today I didn't get up early, but I know that when I get to work I am delivering our monthly newsletter to all the residents. I figured it out and if I do all of the delivering on my own I will do 1800 stairs up and then the same number down. that is a grand total of 3600 stairs. I decided I am going to do it on my own and steal all those burned calories from the other girls I work with. Plus there are a few other buildings without stairs that I will be delivering to as well. I think that will be a great work out. Anyway, I ate a good breakfast this morning and I have my snacks planed out and I have left over Spaghetti Squash for lunch. I still have to figure out what I want for dinner, but I am kinda getting myself ready for the weekend. I'm nervous about it. I had a hard one last weekend, so hopefully I do really well this weekend.

New Cook Book

So my boss gave me a gift card to Barnes and Noble for Christmas and last night I went and got the Biggest Loser Cook Book. Tonight I tried a yummy recipe for a chicken salad sandwich with apples, grapes, and celery. Instead of having it on bread I put mine on a whole wheat tortilla. It was way yummy.

I almost didn't make it to dinner tonight. I was out shopping for lace for Lexi's baptism dress and I got stuck in traffic, and I was totally frustrated 'cause I couldn't find what I was looking for and then traffic was terrible. I called Janie and she talked to me almost all the way home. Thanks Janie, you saved me from the fast food disaster that I almost had.

I didn't exercise this morning. My stomach muscles are so sore, but I was talking to Shawn this morning and he says I need to exercise some more to work through it. I will be up again tomorrow at 5:00 to do my workout.

I called Turbo Jams to see what in the world was going on with my shipment and the lady said it has been shipped, so hopefully tomorrow or Friday I will have my fun new work out.

It really makes a difference on how I eat when I workout in the morning. I need to really make myself do it, even if I have to do a lighter workout to get through my soreness. I can do it. I just have to make it happen.

I was feeling really discouraged earlier, but now that I have had a good dinner and have been on here reading through other peoples blogs I feel a little better.

Lessons Learned

So last night I thought I would do my last chance work out. Come to find out this morning I shouldn't have done that. I was so sore from last night pushing it so hard that I only got just past the warm up on the yoga. I also learned that I shouldn't have had cheerios three times yesterday. They are on my list of things to only have three times a week. oops. :-) Oh well, that was better than a candy bar. Last night I never did eat my veggies. I shouldn't have let myself blog until I did it. Another oops. :-) Oh well, lessons learned. Time to shoot for a week of perfect days. I need to go to the store to stock up on some good stuff to eat.

I did weigh in at 199.4 so I am way happy about that. I'm under 200!!!!! Yipee! I can't wait to see the lower number next Tuesday. I'm really enjoying this. Having a little trouble following through with what I know I need to do, but it is a learning process so it is ok.

Perfect Days make Perfect Bodies

I have seriously been trying to have a perfect day today. I got up at 5:00 and did my weight lose yoga. I almost slept in and realized that that just wasn't an option. Then I had some turkey, cheerios, and EVOO for breakfast. Snack time came around 10:00 and I had some more cheerios and some blueberries. For lunch I had a Tuna Steak, Carrots, Kashi Crackers, and some EVOO. I had another snack around 4:00 of guess more cheerios and some grapes. I was struggling to figure out what to have for dinner, so I had some eggs, a little ham, and yup even more cheerios. I still have to have my dinner veggie, and of course I don't know what to have, so I will probably have some broccoli. I am a little worried that the cheerio day might just kill me when I get on the scale. I don't think I am supposed to have so much cereal, but oh well, we will see what happens. I did a good job on my water intake. That seems to come really easy for me. I like water. Can't wait to see what my weight does in the morning.

Weekend was a little rough

Ok, so I found out that I have a way harder time with weekends than I do during the week. I've got to make a better plan of action for next weekend.

I did do a few things I was proud of myself for. On Friday night Shawn's family came over to watch the Utah Bowl game and him mom brought all the left over goodies from the week of festivities at her house. I picked up one of the cookies and I took a bite. Then I thought about it for a second and realized it wasn't good enough to blow my entire day. So I threw the rest in the garbage. Next step don't pick up a cookie. :-)

We had a really good snow storm hit Friday night, so yesterday I shoveled snow for about three hours. I should have let that count for my exercise for the day, but I wanted more. I got a gift card to Walmart from Shawn's sister Stacy and her husband Mike for my birthday, so I went and got the Biggest Loser Weight Lose Yoga with Bob. It just about made me cry by the end. Talk about a great work out. I feel really good about the exercise I have done this last week.

I need to adjust my food, but I had a good talk with Kristina last night and she was reminding me of a lot of different options I have. I have kinda been stuck in the plain ground turkey mode and now I don't have that brain cramp so much. I'm going to plan better for my food this week and switch it up more.

I'm really looking forward to weighing in Tuesday morning. I have been trying not to weigh myself and just follow what I need to do. I am still hoping to be under the 200 mark, but that will require almost 5 pounds this week. We'll see... if I am not under 200 Tuesday, I for sure will be by the 13th.

I feel like this has been a productive week and I have learned a lot and felt a ton of support. I am so grateful for this competition, I feel like it is the vehicle I needed to get going with my personal goals of weight lose.

Happy New Year!!!

Ok, so last night and today... last night I was so good!!! I kept thinking, "that looks so yummy, I should eat it." Then I got thinking about how many people are in this and if each person is paying in $60 then if I really want the money I better not eat it. At one point I took my phone out and used my little calculator to figure out if a doughnut was really worth that much. I was strong. Kinda funny motivation, but it worked. Plus I told myself earlier that I can do it.

This morning I did not get up at 5:00. I did get my workout in, it was just later this evening after we came home from Shawn's Mom and Dad's. I did another Richard Simons workout. I wish my Turbo Jams would come already!!! Hello I'm totally excited about that. Today I was pretty good. I didn't drink enough water, and I did drink a soda. But during the entire party from last night to today, I only had one cookie and one soda, so other than that I was a good girl.

I am really looking forward to seeing how much I will lose this week. I was thinking about the biggest loser show and how they work out for like 4 hours a day and I was like, there is no way I can put that much time in... then I realized I don't have to. I just have to do what I can and over time this will all benefit me. I can't set myself up to think I will lose some crazy like 15 lbs my first week like some of the people on the ranch do. I honestly don't know what to expect when I get on the scale on Tuesday. I'm really hoping I will be under the 200 mark.

I was sitting in Sunday School on Sunday and we were having the lesson on how we still live in a time of miracles. I was thinking about what has been going on with Mom and I realized that we had hope and had prayed and exercised a great deal of faith on her behalf that she would be healed. There is no doubt in my mind that our prayers were directly answered and that a miracle took place. I was very overcome with emotion, and when we got home on Sunday I was talking to Shawn and I came to the conclusion that there is no reason that I can not ask my Heavenly Father for the miracle of Health for myself. After all it is a righteous desire, and He wants me to be happy. Then I was thinking more... about faith and hope. So you have to have hope first, so I really hope that I can lose my extra weight and become a healthy person again. I don't want to be overweight anymore. I have to exercise faith that I will be able to become a healthy person again by losing my extra weight. Then I was thinking even more and the AH HA moment happened when I realized once again that faith without works is dead. So how do I apply that to me and what I am going through? Well, I figure I have to do my part. I have to follow the nutrition and fitness plan that I have decided on and when I work and exercise my faith, I can have the miracle in my life that I am asking for. I am happy that this has all come into play in my life.

My arms are a little sore from my workout today. Kinda glad I didn't use the resistance bands yet.