34 day fitness challenge comparison

It's kind of difficult for me to tell if there's a difference in my shape here, because the black shirt is so baggy. I do believe my center is changing - leaning out. Of course I have a long way to go - the Reinvention Fitness Challenge is definitely pushing me to do a bit more each day. It's hard for me to believe that I'm actually enjoying sweating...LOL

I wasn't going to post this picture but if I want to see progress I have to be not afraid to look at it...lol This was taken this morning after I got home from walking/jogging 5k. It took 50 minutes to do and I can honestly say I jogged 90% of the way. The roll around my middle is definitely shrinking - a month ago I wouldn't have dreamed of wearing such a form-fitting shirt. Who did I think I was hiding it from? Note the dopey headphones - I can't exercise with ear buds - they keep falling out and they're a major distraction. Saturday is the day I take my measurements. I'm thinkin' I'll see a lot less of the tape this month.

Joggin' Fool

Oh man...I am so happy with myself. I think I can actually give myself the title of 'jogger' now. It's really crazy - I can't wait to get out in the morning to go for a run. Yesterday I did 3.87k (as per www.mapmyrun.com) and all except the first 50 meters and last 50 meters was jogging. My heart rate gets up to about 150 and stays there and I can get it up much higher if I push it. My aim is to be able to run 5k by August. I have no doubt that I'll make it. I didn't run as a child - I hated it! This proves to me that I can do ANYTHING I set my mind to!

I can see the difference one month has done for the shape of my face. Now that I've added cardio intensity I'm liking the way things are shifting around. I don't feel so hungry now either. Not sure why that is. Could it be that I'm FINALLY losing my obsession for food? Please gawd let it be so. Maybe I've finally found the right combination of foods that don't set off my binge meter. I'm eating a lot more fat than I was in the form of flax seed and flax oil - maybe there really is something to the high-fat, medium-protein, lower carb thing. I'm eating lots of balance, but upping the fat and greens seems to be working. I'm having a couple of servings of fruit per day rather than 5 or 6.

The new exercise program is working! The pants I bought in Thailand 2 years ago, that I was never able to get past my hips are now easy to pull up. If I don't start wearing them they'll be too big! I've also cut way down on the amount of fruit I was eating and upped the protein rich food and added more fat. The fat not only adds calories, but it keeps my blood sugar level so I don't feel hunger as much. I'm determined to see a HUGE difference at the end of the 90 day Challenge.

Costco day today. We never manage to get out of there without spending $200 even if we only go for a few things. Some day I'd like to go with unlimited funds and just buy whatever I want. I had a most excellent day at the gym today. I started out with a 20 minute jog/walk on the treadmill, trying to push my heartrate up as far as I comfortably could. I'm starting to keep records so I can work at improvement each time. Tomorrow I'll have to jog on the street because I work - but if I get up early enough I can do it. After the jog I did a bit of upper body work - mostly triceps and biceps. My triceps are the problem area and I'm going to concentrate on building strength there. By the time I got to the yoga studio I was soaked, but I timed it to arrive right when the class started so I didn't get cooled off. I never really thought the yoga workout was all that strenuous, but my heart rate stayed up for all of it, so that's gotta be a good thing. I know I've felt less hungry today - and a lot less stressed. I'm cutting back on fruit and upping the amount of greens I'm eating. I think I need more protein and I'm convinced that the fruit is flooding my system with insulan. I'm going to try that plan for a week anyway and see what happens. Sooner or later I'll hook onto something that will get the weight moving again. I *am* starting to see subtle changes in body shape. My upper legs are taking on definition that is really noticeable. My face is also thinning out. Maybe there's hope for the turkey neck - I don't think it's as bad as it once was.

Puppies. Nothing cuter. It's hard to believe that tiny little Angel produced this litter - but she did it and she's back to her regular shape already two days after birth. The pups have been to the vet to have their tails docked (who decided we need to cosmetically alter dogs???) They look fairly big in the picture but they're actually about the size of mice. Cute as bugs.

Reg picked out the kittens he wants. Two of them are a mix of orange, white, and black - and we think they're females, so those are the two we'll take when they're ready. After all the trouble Sam had with his urinary tract, we don't want any more male cats.

Yesterday was an HIIT day - jogged for most of two miles. I still need a couple of short walk breaks, but it's getting better each time I try. I'm adding weights to the bar for BodyPump and I'm feeling a little sore this morning so I know it's working.

Yesterday was a struggle. I wanted to eat all day long. I'm not sure what that means. Am I lacking something? Not enough protein? I got through the day without a binge, but food was on my mind all day long. I can tell my head is in a different place this morning because I don't have that anxious feeling. Monday is a fairly light exercise day for me since I've started the Body for Life thing - all I do is weights, and I'm thinking I need to add a long (but not strenuous) walk to my day to keep the 'happy endorphins' flowing. It seems to me that when I don't get enough exercise the 'bingies' try to move in. I started off today with my 20 minute jog and I'm about beside myself with joy because I did the whole 20 minutes jogging!!! My heart rate was between 140 and 150 so that tells me that I'm not really pushing myself by Bill Phillips' standards. I don't jog again until Thursday, so I'll up the speed and see where that gets me. Nothing like a science experiment...

Before Photo - 308+ pounds

I need to keep looking at this picture to remind myself of how far I've come. Some days it's difficult to keep going but when I see this picture I KNOW I'm never going back!

I never thought I would ever say that I like jogging. I started last Monday and could barely make it a block without gasping for breath. This morning I did two miles with only two short breaks for walking. I'm SO proud of myself! I used to wonder how Oprah could do it when she was training for the NYC Marathon, because she was still quite heavy at that point. Now I understand. It's all in the technique. You can work on speed later, but get the technique right and it's fairly easy to do. I'M A JOGGIN' FOOL!!! Ok. Maybe I'm just a fool.