I just realized that I forgot to update my blog yesterday! 

Well, Auntie Flo came and went.  She did some damage, and I did some damage.....LOL  I am back on track, though!!  I weighed in at 199 on Friday.  I was pretty good over the weekend and was down to 197 on Monday.  This morning I was down to 195.   

I really kicked ass yesterday. I did my my hour long powerwalk and really pushed myself for an hour at the gym, after work.  I also tracked all of my food and exercise.  I was using a new app that I downloaded for my iPad.  Pretty darn cool!!  It graphs everything for me and calculated my net calories consumed after logging in my exercise.  It's pretty motivating. 

Tracking my food, kind of made me realze that I probably was taking in more calories and carbs then I thought....but not a WHOLE lot more.  I have been really inspired by Lisa, from the boards.  She looks absolutely amazing!!  She has really worked hard with her band and plans out, measures and is very vigilent.  So, I am modeling after her.  LOL  Well, sort of!  I have bought some of the protein powders she uses, and they ARE YUMMY!!!  http://www.bsnonline.net/details/leandessertprotein.html 

So, when money permits, I will try some of the other products she uses daily and loves. 

All I can do is keep plugging away and using my band for what it's designed to do.  I am way far from perfect, but I am in a healthier place in my head and determined to get down to goal, in a strong, toned body!! 

You know, I went on my 4 mile walk today at lunch.  It was about 70 degrees outside, a light breeze and the sun was blasting.  While walking, I could feel my mood getting lighter and lighter.  When I came back from my walk I decided to "Google" the effects that the sun have on your mood.  The first several pages (didn't go past that) were all about products you can buy, herbs, etc.  It made me realize just how luck I was to have my mood elevated for free, by the sun......and to get some exercise to boot!! 

So, I met with that trainer last week.  Of course it was all about selling personal training sessions, which I CLEARLY can't afford, but I did get some good information from her.  Nothing too specific, but in general terms, she said to keep weight training, but to also include about 40 minutes or so of cardio.  My lunchtime walks are an  hour and I do about 40 minutes of weight training at the gym.  I am doing all of the right things, it's just that a trainer could probably help me more with the weight training, showing me how many reps and which machines to use. 

This trainer also said that the first 20 minutes of working out,  your body uses to warm up.  After 20 minutes, you start to burn fat.  She also calculated that my target heart rate for fat burning is between 125 and 135.  This isn't too hard to achieve.  I bought an inexpensive heart rate monitor this weekend and used it today.  I was able to keep my rate between 132 and 147 for the full hour, so that is 40 minutes of pure fat burning!  Yay!

I didn't even bother weighing in this morning as my damn "monthly bill" came on Saturday and I always get drepressed weighing myself that time of month.  On Friday, I was at 194, , so that's great!!  I hope to see the 180's sometime soon!! 

Hope everyone has a successful week!!

*I am little frustrated.....I typed a nice long blog and then OH lost it.*  ugh

Okay, last week I rocked!!!  I went on my walk EVERY day!!  I even stretched the walk to 4 miles one of the days instead of 3.5 miles.  I also went the gym EVERY day!!  Yay, me!! I honestly can't remember my weight on Friday, I think it was around 196 or 197, but I could feel a real difference in my body shape.  My tummy is actually slimming down!! 

I so wish that I had taken everyone's advice and measured myself last fall when I joined the gym.    Oh well, I can't go back in time.  The way that my clothes fit me are telling the story. 

I have an appointment with a trainer at another gym this Thursday.  Of course it's a free session to try and get me to join that gym, but I am going to take advantage of it and try to get as much info as possible.  I might end up joining that gym....they have classes and a swimming pool, so, I could have a variety of things to do.  It's not that much more a month, so we'll see!

I did very well last week and then over the weekend I had to sabatoge myself.  UGH!    I am not sure why I do that.  I ate like a crazy woman.  My band loosened up, as well.  I even was stupid enough to bake cookies!  WTF is wrong with me?  I guess a good therapist could answer that question.  ha ha  I weighed in at 199 yesterday morning, but today I am back down to 197, so I guess  the damage was not permanent.  Thank goodness!! 

I am starting the week good with the gym and my walk again.....hope yours is going well, also!! 

Week one went relatively well.  I actually saw the scale go down to 193 at one point, but then it went back up to 197 and has stayed here.    Not letting THAT get me down.  I went to the gym 3 nights, but I only did my walks twice.  The weather was HORRIBLE last week.  

Today I did my walk and went to the gym.  I had my protein shake for breakfast and for lunch I had some homemade chili.  For dinner, I had a very small amount of country style pork ribs and some Pops chips.  OMG, I love those things!  If I am bad and eat the ENTIRE bag, it's still only 360 calories!!  ha ha ha!  Being the chip addict that I am, this is a great find.  

I am starting to feel a difference in my body again, which is great!  I wore some slacks to work, since Mother Nature gave us winter again today...and they are my size 14's that I bought last fall.  They were a bit snug before, but today, they are actually a bit loose!  Yay!!  Working out is paying off!  I know that I can get in to SOME of my size 12 capris, but I wouldn't feel quite comfortable buying size 12 off of the rack, YET.  Soon, but not yet.  I really, really want to get back down to my size 10's.  I am confident that I will make it.  

Even if I never get there, with my band working the way that it is, I know that I will never be a size 26 again, and for that I am forever grateful!!