Then Came Thursday. Again.

I started the week off great - losing only 1 pound, but noticing I was CONSTANTLY pulling my pants up because they were too loose in the waist!

This week I stuck with:
- Jillian Michael's No More Trouble Zones
OR
-bike riding for 45 minutes and Shred Level 1

I REALLY wanted to get some running in, but it was either way to hot or raining. It needs to stop raining (for about a week now, with about 4 more days forecasted) so I can start the 5K in 6 weeks program. I can already run for 30 min straight, but I have no idea if I'm running 1 mile or 5. I need to track it and then set a goal to raise it.

But back to this week, I was doing great with one of the options Sun - Wed then came Thursday (I have grad class) and Friday (I'm wiped from the week) and Saturday (busy with errands and stuff). My final is this Thursday and my goal is to somehow come up with a plan to keep exercising at the end of the week. I'm great at sticking to it Sun - Wed, but fall apart Thurs - Sat. I see results Sun - Wed, and plateau Thurs - Sat. You'd think it'd be motivation to workout Thurs - Sat, but it's not yet.

Ideas fellow shredders?

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The Human Yo-Yo

Yo-yo  (as defined by Dictionary.com)
1 .a spool like toy consisting of two thick wooden, plastic, or metal disks connected by a dowel pin in the center to which a string is attached, one end being looped around the player's finger so that the toy can be spun out and reeled in by wrist motion.
2. something that fluctuates or moves up and down, esp. suddenly or repeatedly.

Human Yo-yo (as defined by me)
1. A human that fluctuates or moves up and down, especially suddenly or repeatedly in the area of weight gain and loss

How To Create A Human Yo-yo:
1. Shred and lose 8 pounds
2. Have a birthday and luck out with THREE NIGHTS IN A ROW OF DATES with your husband. Which were spent dining out. Because, hello?!? Three nights of eating and talking with an adult?!?
3. Gain 5 pounds from said birthday fun.
4. Spring weather and motivation - lose 3 pounds from running and trying out other Jillian Michael's programs on On Demand.
5. Lose 3 pounds from motivation.
6. Gain 4 pounds in 36 hours. WTF?!? Where did that come from? Dude, I know I ate a lot the weekend before, but I worked out, ate better and lost most of it!
7. Wake up the next day with cramps and realize it's not really weight gain - it's bloatedness. Yup - you can guess what it's from.
8. Continue to exercise and eat well and unbloat.
9. Lose 4 pounds.
10. Continue to exercise and eat well.
11. Lose another 2 pounds.
12. Net loss of 8 pounds.

Hence, I have become the Human Yo-yo.

I have definitely noticed improved endurance. Before I'd run for 30 -45 minutes, but it was really run for a song, walk for half a song, run for a song or two, walk for a song. For the past 2 weeks I've been able to run for 30 minutes with NO stopping!

And I've decided that I really like Jillian Michael's. I have been trying out some other exercise programs on On Demand. I keep returning to Jillian Michael's. It's something about the way she motivates that really works for me. And her pointers on keeping form - belly button to the ground, toes pointed that really help me get the most of her workouts. Team Jillian it is for me.

Stay tuned for what this Human Yo-yo does next!

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Shred, Shred and more Shredding

Well, maybe not that much shredding. But, progress none the less!

This week I stayed at Level 1 again. I need to move up because although Level 1 isn't easy, it certainly has become comfortable to do and I really like the flow of Level 1.

I was able to go for two 30 minute runs and do the Shred 3 times this week. No change on the scale,

BUT (drum role........)

this morning I was able to fit into a size 4 pants I haven't been able to in over a year. I had actually tried this pair a little more than a week ago and couldn't get them past my mid-thighs. Two months ago - I had to buy a size 10 pants!

Definitely seeing decreased size/toning in the stomach, thighs and arms.

So, despite no movement on the scale, this morning was certainly a huge motivator to keep going!

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Welcome to theShredheads

So. Lots of my blogging friends have joined I'll Stop the World and Shred With You.

I actually joined them about 2 months ago, but they didn't know. I guess I'm sorta coming out of the closet. Or rather finally getting around to officially join them.

Here's some of the basic Shredhead info:

1. Pics - not motivated enough to take them, download them and post them. You'll have to use your imagination here.

2. Tag Line - MyLossAsItIs @ MyLifeAsItIs

3. Weight - started at 130. Which probably sounds like a decent weight. Except I'm only 5 feet all. And before I got pregnant I was 118, which was slightly more than when I got married. I only gained 25 pounds with Adam, and was extremely fortunate that all but 5 pounds was gone by his 5 day check up. Those last 5 pounds were easily lost. And that was 10 years ago. And, in fact, 2 years ago I was down to 112. After lots of running and kickboxing. I felt the best I had in years. Then I found out I had extremely high cholesterol. And because I was already fit and eating right it was straight to meds for me. Then I gained 1o pounds in one month. Stopped meds. Plateaued. Tried a different med. Gained another 10 pounds. Stopped meds. Plateaued. Which put me up to 132 this past Christmas, with high cholesterol and a poor response to meds. I weighed more than I did when I came home from the hospital with a newborn!

4. Goal - to get back down to 112. Yup. 20 pounds.

5. Diet Plan - to increase fruits and veges - especially on the days I don't Shred. And decrease portions of food for all meals.

6. Personal Rules - to do my best.

7. Shred Plan - I started this back at the end of January. And I'm proud to say I've already lost 7 pounds! I don't do it every day. I wish I could. But I simply don't have the time, despite it being only a 20 minute workout. I try to get in 3-4 times a week of Shredding.

I started on Level 1 for about 2 weeks and moved to Level 2. It was OK. It was a lot of up and down. And with a heart condition the up and down was making me dizzy. So I moved to Level 3. I like that one a lot. But some days I ride the bike for 20 minutes before shredding and on those days I do Level 1. I like Level 1. I like the flow and the workout.

I know I could probably lose more if I did it more than 3-4 times a week, but that is what I comfortably have time for. And so far I've been happy with the weight loss as well as the slimming of the stomach and arms, and the looser feel of the clothes.

It's motivation to keep me going.

Do you want to join in on the fun too?

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