Holiday Hotties December Challenge

With my job as an activity director in a retirement community, the time between Halloween and New Year's Day is wrought with awful and wonderful temptations, on an almost daily basis.

I honestly admit to using bribery to get my residents out of their rooms, and into my activities. Most of the time, the bribes include food. Usually sweets. The last taste buds left on our tongues, as we age, are the sweet ones. This is why many older people will use lots and lots of salt, when the food is already well seasoned. They simply can't taste it. But the sweet buds linger on, and I use it to my advantage. And to my disadvantage. Sugar is one of my greatest weaknesses. I simply adore it, in all is forms. But especially in cookies, cakes and chocolate.

Resident family members leave us food at the nurse's station, they send us food in the mail. They leave it on our desks. Vendors give us food, doctors send us cakes and donuts. There are parties for staff, parties for residents. Then a few more parties for staff. We just love to party and to eat. 

It's no secret that most Americans experience a 3-9 pound weight gain during the holiday season. Exercise routines slack off and eating plans slip beyond recognition of healthy.

Thankfully I have two accountability groups to keep me honest and mostly on track during this food-filled season.

My running girlfriends started a Healthy Challenge Facebook group to keep us accountable with eating and exercise. We post our food & exercise daily. Share recipes and tips as well. These girls are great - I also run with them almost weekly and enjoy their camaraderie and friendship.

My Ninety day challenge group coach Lindsay Phillips started a Holiday Hottie challenge. It could not have come at a better time. And those who know me have seen a bit of my competitive nature. Well, seriously, no one LIKES to lose, right?

Our Hottie challenge started the Monday after Thanksgiving. We were given a grid of ways to earn points. Whoever earns the most points by Dec 31 wins a prize.

I've printed off a copy at home and work, so I can remember what will earn me which points. Some things are easy - we almost all post our daily menu & workout. Now I just need to remember to snap a picture of my sweaty self, and get some pictures of my healthy meals. Well, I need to get back to some healthier meals before I start taking those pictures.

My sister, Mary, who has been doing the 90 day challenge with me has had some amazing results. See for yourself:

I am so proud of her! And because I am a chicken, I am showing her before/after pictures, instead of mine. When I get a little farther along, maybe I'll be brave enough to show you those. Maybe.

I will show you this nice little video Mary took of me doing push-ups. I have always struggled with upper body strength, and the only way I could do push ups was on my knees. On of my "crazy, awesome" goals is to be able to do 25 toe push ups  I'm not quite there yet, but, check this out!!  If you can hear the sound, that is Mary and my parents cheering me on in the background.

Push ups

I've never met any of the girls in my Hottie challenge face to face. We do not even live in the same states. We post daily, encourage each other and are forming connections that are strong and lasting. We are all working on becoming better versions of ourselves.

My sister Mary is racking up major points in our challenge. She is creating cheers for all of us. Here is the one she came up with for me (think: Liar, liar - pants on fire).

If you are interested in this kind of challenge, just find Lindsay Harrish Phillips on facebook, and friend her. Tell her I sent you (and it might earn me some extra points!!). Pin It Now!

Friday Confessions 10.5.12

It's Friday! So it's time to confess! I missed confessions last week...so here goes.
I confess ......
That I've run two races since my last confession. First was Ache Around the Lake 8K. It was a good day. My sister, her son and my dad also participated. It was super-duper to have them, and my mom there cheering me on and supporting me.
Next up was Moonshiner 5k Night Trail Race. It was my first night trail race - everyone had to wear a headlamp. It was a blast. I hope I get to do this race again next year. I loved running at night on the trail - and it reminded me that I really do like trail running, and I need to get on one more often.

I confess....
That I'm one month into my 90 day challenge. You can read about my first 30 days if you are interested. I'm very, very pleased with my program. I am increasing my weight lifting abilities, and stamina. My running is improving and my body is slowly melting. There's not much better than fitting into clothes in your closet again (except maybe a good pizza...).
I confess.... 
that I ran across this video....and it made me laugh out loud!!

I confess....

What ours looked like - not bad!

That during my baking group this week we made these yummy thingies. I really don't even know what to call them. They were easy, sweet & salty and I found them on my beloved Pinterest.
Check out how easy there were here!

This is what they are supposed to look like...

What are YOU confessing this week? Have you run any races?  Made any sweet, addicting treats? Thanks for stopping by! Mamarazzi is on a brief bloggy break, so the Friday Confessional party will be hanging out with Aubrey at High Heeled Love through the end of October.

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90 Day Challenge - 30 day update

So I'm 30 days into my 90 day Challenge. Time for some results!

To recap - for exercise I have been doing a Beach Body program called Chalean Extreme, and running 3 days a week. The program is divided into phases. There are two ab DVD's in the Chalean program, and I've been doing those as well. I've tried one of the two cardio DVD's, and liked it but am depending on running for cardio right now. 

For nutrition, I'm using Shakeology for one meal a day and following  a lower-carb, lower fat, higher protein diet. I'm not counting calories, exactly, but I am logging my food into My Fitness Pal for accountability. 

I have a Beach Body coach, Lindsay, as well as a Facebook support group with other challengers of like minds and similar goals. The Facebook  group is really awesome. Our Coach Lindsay is attentive and supportive. She really wants to see each of us succeed in our health journeys.

I enjoyed the first month of Chalean Extreme. The first phase is called "Burn".  There are three Burn Circuit programs for each week. And most of the exercises certainly do burn - in  the best kind of good way. I splurged and bought a set of adjustable dumbbells.

These are the ones I ended up getting:

Power Block  SportBlock 24

They adjust from 3 pounds to 24 pounds, had great reviews and were mostly in my price range. I got them just in time. to up from 10 to 12 pounds, and they worked great. I like them very, very much.

My running has improved - the squats and lunges have really helped me with hills and endurance. Our running club is hosting a Half Marathon in November. I will be doing a Color Run the same day with my two sisters, but am still training for the 1/2 because I want to improve both my distance and speed.



So, Results!

I weighed, measured and took update photos.

30-day Weight loss - 3.5 pounds
Total weight lost from start of 10 day challenge - 7.5 pounds

30-day Inches lost - 4.5
Total inches lost - 7.25

Photos: I can see a slight difference, hopefully next month will be more, uh, "dramatic".

The main thing is my clothes are fitting better than they have in a long time, and that's a great feeling.

At the beginning of our challenge we had to come up with 30, 60 and 90 day goals. My 30 day goal was to PR (get a personal record) in a recent 8K race. And I did it!! You can read about that HERE. Meeting a goal like that is so empowering!

We have to come up with "Can, Will, Did" goals each week. The last two weeks my goals were about the number of sweets I would/could eat each week. It helps to have the goals because they keep us focused and accountable, and sugar is one of my weaknesses.

This week we had to come up with a theme song that described our life at this point. My song is "On top of the World" by Imagine Dragons.

This is one of the Color Run 5K theme songs. The first time I heard it I loved the happy music beat. Then I listened to the lyrics and realized they spoke to me where I'm at right now.

"I’ve tried to cut these corners
Try to take the easy way out
I kept on falling short of something

I coulda gave up then but
Then again I couldn’t have ’cause
I’ve traveled all this way for something

Now take it in but don’t look down

‘Cause I’m on top of the world, ‘ay
I’m on top of the world, ‘ay
Waiting on this for a while now
Paying my dues to the dirt
I’ve been waiting to smile, ‘ay
Been holding it in for a while, ‘ay
Take it with me if I can
Been dreaming of this since a child
I’m on top of the world."

With my weight loss journey, I have definitely tried to cut corners and take the easy way out, but kept falling short. And that way may work in the short-run, but in the long run it really does take focus, discipline and hard work to become a healthier version of ourselves.

I've learned a few things this month.

• I've been crushin' on my calves lately, which is funny because I've never liked them. Thought they were too think, too stubby. But now I just really like them. I like standing on my toes and seeing definition in them. Muscles! I don't really know if they look any different, or if I am seeing them different. When I look at them now they look strong. I'm still courting my thighs and my upper arms, but I think we might have a thing going on by the end of 90 days.

• I really can control what I eat. It's hard sometimes, especially on those days where I think I deserve something, or when I think food is going to help me feel better or comfort. But it really is in my control. I am learning to eat to live, and not the other way around.

• Lifting weights is awesome. I was one of the people who thought I would bulk up with heavy weights. Not true. Building muscle helps you burn calories longer...muscles burns fat.....bring it on!

• Having a support system of people who are doing the same thing is invaluable. It's  wonderful to have support of friends and family. But being able to converse with others about temptations, successes, ups and downs really makes a huge difference! I have never met any of the girls in my support group face-to-face (except my dear sister), but I feel like I've known them a long time. Some of the most helpful, supportive women I've come across.  And, by the way, my sister is blogging her experiences too over at Forty By Forty.

If you are interested in joining a similar challenge, please contact me or check out Lindsay's website by clicking HERE. She is starting another one on Oct 22. Lindsay lives in another state, so you do not have to be close geographically to be involved!

I'll post again in 30 days with my 60 day update. Hopefully my results will be as good or better than these first 30 days.

Do you have fitness or weight loss goals? Have you written them down? Do you have a plan to achieve them?

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Friday Confessions 9.7.12 & 9.14.12

It's that time again! Fess up!

I confess that most of this is from last Friday's confessions! This week has been crazy. 

My biggest new confession is that I was hoping to make it to age 45 before needing glasses (reading), but didn't quite make it.

Do I look smarter??

For my baking group at work yesterday we made S'mores Stuff Brownies. I got the recipe from Picky Palate. They were delicious!! Her pictures are beautiful, but you can see ours too:

Well, I confess that I have been mesmerized by my new washer & drier that my sweetie bought me last weekend.

It did not start out all that great. We got the beauties home, in the house (thanks to my wonderful neighbors) and hooked up. It was late on Sunday, so I waited until Monday to start my first load - washing my king size comforter in the depths of that huge washer cavity. Well, I watched the water go in, watched the drum spin round and round, and didn't see any water filling the drum. I could hear it splashing, then I could see it - all over my laundry room floor. All. Over. And I have a large laundry room. Oh No!!

So my sweetie (and my neighbors) got the washer out - turns out it was completely busted underneath. We think it must have been dropped before we purchased it. Of course the store we bought it from didn't have another, long story short, he returned the damaged and came home with new #2. We got it in, hooked up, and I held my breath. But, no worries, it was all good. I still check on it while it's running though, just in case. But I do love them! They are Whirlpool Cabrios. And my laundry room, especially my floor is really, really clean Here they are, all cozied up:

They have a huge capacity, with no agitator in the washer. It actually uses less water than my old washer. Love them, and love the color!

I confess that I love, love my dog, Rusty - he is the cutest thing EVER! He just showed up one day, about 9 years ago. We three- Rusty, hubby and me, decided we were right for each other and became a family. Rusty is about 11 years old now - can't imagine life without him.

I confess that I've finished week 2 and 3of my 90 day challenge - no blog post on that yet, maybe for the end of the first 30 days. All is going well. I do find myself getting really hungry some afternoons. My coach suggested another light snack, if I feel I need it. I upped my activity level with lots of running, and lifting heavier weights so maybe my metabolism is kicking in. I have lost a 1/2 inch off my hips, and that is a nice place to lose too, as I am quite hippy. And someone at work asked me how much weight I had lost - not really that much so far, but the clothes are fitting better. Since I'm measuring, I know that I'm losing inches. I'm pleased with my progress to date.

I confess that I believe dreams can speak to us. Sometimes our dreams are messages, emotionally or spiritually. Or sometimes they are just crazy. And once in awhile they are crazy and still speak to us. I had such a dream this week.

I was going to do my 5 mile run last Monday, since it was a holiday and I would have extra time. With the washer fiasco, that didn't happen. So plan B was Tuesday. Well I woke up at 3am and it was raining, pouring. Went back to sleep. Dreamed that I was to meet a running club friend, M, at 6am to run 5 miles around the lake. Well, it was raining at 6am, so I didn't go. When I woke again (still in my dream), M was just finishing and I felt bad that I didn't go with her.

Then I woke up for real at 5:50am, and it was raining. What to do??!! I got up and ran 5 miles in light rain. If I hadn't had that crazy, real dream, I don't know if I'd have run at all.

I confess that I'm still following my training plan for the upcoming Ache Around the Lake 8K, Sept. 22. And I'm loving it! Last Saturday was 5 miles, Tuesday was 5 miles, Thursday was 4 miles. And tomorrow, Saturday, will be 6 miles. Woo Hoo! Then the mileage drops a bit the week before and week of the race. Here's a nice view from last Saturday morning at the lake. Beautiful!

Beautiful Lake Lanier, SC

What about you - have you ever had a crazy message dream?

What are YOU confessing this week? Hit the button to join the party!

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Ninety Day Challenge - Week 1

Despite a slight set-back involving Reese cups & chocolate & cake (see here), I've had a really good first week.

For my workout program, I chose Chalean Extreme. So far so good. The workouts are very different from strength training programs I've attempted in the past. There are three phases - Burn, Push and Lean. For the first month I am in the Burn phase. It is heavier weights, lifted very slowly with a fail between the 10th - 12th repetition. This means that my weight should be heavy enough for the reps to feel really, really hard by the 10th, and almost impossible by the 12th. If they don't feel hard for me, than my weight is not heavy enough. I've always thought that this method created bulky muscles, but from what I am now discovering, that is not necessarily true. There are three different Burn circuits, and I've done all of them at this point. There are certain exercises on each that I like the best. I can't believe I actually wrote that. But it's true. There are a couple of them that I really like. All of them are pretty hard for me. I'm using between 5 and 10 pounds, depending on the exercise and muscles being worked. But I can already tell that I need to get higher weights. I'm thinking about some of those adjustable dumbbells. The affordable ones only go up in increments of 5 pounds, and I would rather have increments of 2.5, but I'll keep looking at this point. I'm not going over 10 pounds this week, that's for sure.

I haven't watched any of the Push or Lean circuits, so can't tell you what that means, yet.

There are two ab workouts included in the program. Ab Burner is 10 minutes, and Extreme Abs is 16 minutes. Well last weekend after a 5 mile run/walk I thought I'd just pop in the Ab Burner and get some ab work. Ten minutes wasn't that long, I'd just run for over an hour. hahahahahaha. My core was positively trembling about 4 minutes into the workout. When will this be over??!! I thought I had tried every kind of tummy exercise out there. Not so, at all. These were different, intense, and very effective. Of course, for my stomach to have significant changes, I need to keep changing my diet as well as continuing the workouts.

The meal plan is great. I feel like I am eating more often, but much better stuff. I have an alarm set on my phone to remind me to eat a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack. Each meal/snack should have lean protein and I can add a complex carb up through dinner, but no carbs after dinner, and none at all right before bed. I am waking more rested, and it's easier for me to get up early. I think the diet is playing a big part in these changes. I've never, ever been a morning person. Have wanted to be a morning person. All I know now is that it's easier for me to get up early. I really like getting my workouts done first thing, then I don't have to try to fit it in somewhere later. That doesn't always work out so well.

Our Facebook support group is really nice. We post our food/workouts daily. Encourage one another and have weekly goals/homework to keep us focused on WHY we are doing this challenge.

Around day two I took all my "before" photos. I would not let my mister take these, I used the timer on my camera. The booklet that came with the exercise program gave example poses that I should include. I took them all. Then I looked at them, and was nauseated. That was plenty of motivation for why I want to complete this challenge and become a better version of me. I also took all my "before" measurements. I will take photos and measurements again on days 30, 60 and 90. 

This is my latest reality check to keep going:

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Friday Confessions 8.24.12

I confess that ONE of my guilty pleasures is going to the tanning bed, occasionally. Be quiet haters, judges, whatever - I really enjoy going to the tanning bed. First I like a glow on my very white skin, and second, most important, its one of the few places I can be completely alone for 20 minutes. Well, I went this past week, after not going for some time (I'm not a regular). So she told me to do half & half. Legs first, rest after. So I situated my legs up under the bulbs, set my timer and enjoyed. Then when it came time to do the upper half things got a bit tricky. I ended up with my legs sticking out one of the ends of the bed, trying to rest on the chair. My feet fell asleep so I was trying to move about to get a little more comfortable (like being in a body-sized microwave is comfy) and my back stuck to the bed. You know what that means - huge fart-like sound coming from getting my sweaty back unstuck. Humongous,  - and good grief, it was just my back. I was the only one in the boutique, and even with my fan on full speed I know, I just KNOW that the owner heard it. Ugh!! She probably knew it was a full body fart, but still, just a bit awkward, ya know?

I confess that something happened this week that confirmed my status as a runner. I can't post the details, but trust me, if I didn't know before, I now know that I AM A RUNNER. It was one of those things that will never be forgotten, has probably happened to many people. But one day it may come in  conversation, and I will be able to say "Oh yea, that happened to me once, that's when I knew I was a runner."

I'm ordering this necklace too.

I confess that this past Wednesday, I started my 90 Day Health Challenge with my sister Mary- who is also blogging here. Ninety days of tracking my food, working out 5-6 times weekly, daily check-ins on a private facebook page. I had to take my before photos, I've since taken to calling them my porn pics. They were just awful. A very good motivator to keep me on the straight and narrow! I will do them again, along with measurements on day 30, 60 and 90. The plan is that by day 90 I will be unrecognizable. Well, probably not that drastic, but you get the idea.

I'm doing the Chalean Extreme 90 Fitness program. I've only done 2 of the workouts so far, but so far so good. I can see already that I'm going to need heavier weights. This program focuses on heavier weights with very, very slow reps. I need something heavy enough to fail at 10-12 reps. Fail is a good thing with this program. 

I confess that I would love to have these:

These are made by Bowflex, and unfortunately a bit out of my price range. I don't want to have to sell a kidney to get them. There are some others out there that are more affordable, so we'll see. Maybe I can find a great sale.

We have a birthday coming up at work next week, one of my co-workers. I volunteered to bake the cake. She likes Red Velvet and German Chocolate for sure. I've made a lovely Red Velvet - check it out here. I personally don't really like German Chocolate - so given my health challenge, that would be the best choice. B U T, my friend loves anything chocolate, and Reese cups.....and there is this cake that I have been wanting to try for years....

So, I might surprise her with this...I'll keep you posted.

What are you confessing this week?

What are YOUR guilty pleasures?

Hit the link to join the 'fess up.

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