Weight Workout

My typical weight workout is one that requires heavy lifting. I lift to exhaustion and I try to increase pounds over time. I'm basically hoping to build as much muscle as possible.

As a "hard gainer" female, it takes a lot of iron-pumping for me to build any real muscle. I was ecstatic the first time I saw a "cut" in my bicep. That "cut" is long gone, thanks to my slacking.

Building muscle requires a fairly high calorie diet. At the very least, it's almost impossible for me to build muscle and lose weight at the same time. Since right now I'd rather lose a few pounds than build any real muscle, I've had to adjust my weight workout.

I've switched to a circuit type plan that requires me to go from exercise to exercise with very little rest. I'm using lighter weights than usual. So I might do...

10 Chest Presses
10 Bicep Curls
8 Lateral Raises
10 Sumo Squats
10 Lunges (each leg)
8 Military Presses

...without stopping between exercises. Once I finish those sets, I'll rest for two minutes. Then I move on to my next group of exercises.

I have to use lighter weights if I want to move from exercise to exercise without rest (otherwise I'd get too tired and my form would suffer). I'm doing this circuit because it torches calories, too. Because I don't get a chance to rest, my heart rate stays pretty high--turning this into both a strength training and cardio workout.

I won't build any real muscle with this workout, but I will maintain the muscle I have now. Plus it helps with weight loss, too!

Inspiration

Sometimes we all need a little inspiration. Fortunately, there are places like Karl's blog that provide regular inspiration and motivation for your life.

Karl is an author and entrepreneur. He's written two best-selling books. You can learn more about him at his Karl Moore website.

He regularly posts inspirational messages on his blog that are designed to help you live a fuller life. On Mondays he offers suggestions for a Random Act of Kindness that will improve your life and the life of others around you. On Fridays he reveals a Factoid of some type, usually an interesting nibbles of information--it might even help you win your next Trivia Pursuit game!

If you're looking for a pick-me-up, an inspirational blurb or a feel-good post, stop by Karl's blog. You may find a little tidbit that helps make your day a little brighter.

More Hunger (But In A Good Way)

Woke up this morning and I was soooooo hungry! That's always a good sign. First-thing-in-the-morning hunger means:

• I didn't consume a bunch of extra calories during the previous day
• I didn't eat a huge meal right before bed

I'm always gratified when I feel hungry in the morning. It usually means the day before was a pretty good day in terms of diet.

I skipped my workout yesterday because of time constraints. I still can't seem to get up and workout in the morning. Hubby's varied work schedule is really taking its toll on me!

Got a walk/run planned for today. Would prefer to run, but it's been a few weeks since I've done some serious exercise. I thought it would be best to ease back into things slowly.

Hunger

Yesterday wasn't too bad. Hubby and I did a 4 mile hike (well... a 4 mile walk) with our dogs. It was moderate--not a stroll, not too brisk. The dogs enjoyed it, and at least the whole family got some exercise.

As for yesterday's diet, it was pretty good. My food was right on track, but I did have two glasses of wine. Obviously not on my plan, but Hubby wanted some wine and I couldn't resist.

My biggest obstacle seems to be hunger. When I switch to a healthy eating plan, I eat 4-6 small meals per day. In this case, a meal might be:

• Veggie burger, 1/2 cup brown rice, green beans
• 1/4 cup oatmeal (dry), 8 almonds
• 1 cup veggie/bean soup

As you can see, those aren't very large meals. (Some would even call them a "snack.")

At the beginning of my new healthy eating plan, I am constantly battling hunger. It's probably not really hunger, actually. I'm just used to being full all the time.

Rather than stuffing my belly to the point of fullness--and trying to keep it there--I need to learn how to identify real hunger. I also need to learn that a bit of a tummy growl is not a bad thing all the time, and that occasionally dealing with hunger won't kill me.

Evening Dresses Online

This is a sponsored post

In my opinion, one of the best things about losing weight is the newfound ability to slide into a slinky evening dress! With the holidays right around the corner, I've refocused my efforts on dropping a few pounds. I'm seriously hoping that Hubby's job will host a fun, elegant holiday event that will give me a chance to wear a sexy dress!

And, fortunately, there are websites like ElegantMart.com that sell beautiful Evening Dresses at reasonable prices. And products are shipped free with a 120% guarantee! For someone who loves to shop online--like me!--this super deal is a great way to purchase evening gowns and cocktail dresses. I'm really looking forward to dropping a few pounds and then slipping into one of their elegant dresses. Hubby's jaw will drop!

Stats

In an effort to chart my progress, I am now going to start keeping track of my stats. Specifically, I am tracking BMI and Body Fat Percentage.

I'm mostly concerned about Body Fat, but I thought BMI would be a nice way to keep track of my weight without actually revealing how much I weigh!

Today's Stats

BMI: 22.4
BF%: 25%

My ideal goal is a BMI of 19-20, and a BF% of about 20-22%.

Weekend Fears

Already the weekend is looming ahead of me.

Hubby and I are hosting a BBQ tonight for his family, and then another BBQ tomorrow night for friends. Both of them mean lots of food and drinks.

I still haven't been able to get my workouts on the type of schedule I want. Ideally, I would get up early in the morning and workout for 2 hours before I get my day started. Unfortunately, my body has a different idea when my alarm sounds in the AM. Instead, my hand shoots out and hits the snooze button, and I go back to dreamland.

I doubt I'll get up early to exercise this weekend--too much pressure on me. I have to clean the house, cook food, organize things... I know I'm going to need that extra thirty minutes of sleep time in the mornings. But maybe I'll at least squeeze in a workout during the afternoon, before guests arrive.

Unfortunately, the heat has returned again--in full force. So if I do workout in the afternoon, I'll be stuck inside.

Skateboards For Exercise

(This is a sponsored post)

As much as I love running, sometimes I want to try something else. A fun and exciting workout can keep you motivated to stay fit. Sometimes its better to choose a sport for exercise so your workouts feel more like fun than exercise.

Surprisingly, a favorite youth activity can also be a great workout for anyone of ANY age! Skateboarding requires balance, agility, strength and speed. It's also lots of fun!

Check out WarehouseSkateboards.com if you're looking for top quality skateboards for you or your kids. They have everything you need--like element skateboards, skateboard trucks and skateboard decks. You can buy complete skateboards or various parts and pieces. The site even sells accessories like tape and decals, plus clothing and pads. And if you're just learning, they sell DVDs that will get you started.

If you're looking for a way to get your child more physical activity--instead of wasting time in front of the TV!--consider buying him or her a skateboard! Your gift will provide fun, entertainment and healthy exercise, too!

Favorite Fitness Magazines

I read a lot of fitness and health magazines. I used to buy them all from newsstands, but it started to cost waaayyyy too much. Now I subscribe to some and buy others.

My favorites include:

Oxygen: This is a Canadian women's fitness magazine. It's geared toward fitness competitors, but it has plenty of good advice for anyone who's looking to lose weight and shape their body. The magazine focuses on clean eating and strength training.

Women's Health: The female version of Men's Health, this magazine has fitness, diet and beauty advice. It's not as hardcore as Oxygen, and it's reader-friendly for women of all fitness levels.

Fitness RX: I like this magazine because many of its sections are short summaries of current scientific research related to health, fitness and nutrition. The blurbs usually give an overview of the research and then a few sentences of how it can be applied to everyday life.

Fitness magazines provide me with guidance, advice and plenty of motivation. The slim, fit models help me shape goals for my own fitness and body.

Kids and Money

This is a sponsored post.

When I was younger, I was a very poor money manager. By the time I finished grad school, I was deep in debt--student loans, car, and (worst of all) credit cards. I finally cleaned up my act and paid off my debts. And when it was all finished, I promised myself that I'd teach my kids the basics of money management so they'd never find themselves in the same debt situation.

Hubby and I have discussed it, and we both feel that education our (future) children about personal finances is a vital part of parenting. Fortunately, there are blogs like this one that help impart information about teen investing and money management for kids. It’s a great place to find guidance, advice and up-to-date news about personal finance and children.

Since the blog also discusses other things related to finance and parenting, it's an interesting read for almost anyone.

Not-So-Fresh Start

So I wanted a fresh start today, but it's more of a slightly fresh start. I kinda went a little crazy last night with the wine, so I'm feeling a bit hungover today. That means I don't feel like exercising at all.

However, I am staying clean with my diet. I've got my meals planned for the day, and they're all very healthy and low-calorie. As long as I stick with my plan, I'll be in good shape.

My serious workouts will start again tomorrow. Fortunately, the weather has really cooled down this week, so it might actually be comfortable if I want to exercise outside. I'm looking forward to a nice run around the neighborhood.

JourneyLite Lapband Surgery

(This is a sponsored post)

Although I am tackling my weight issues with diet and exercise, some folks prefer to go the route of surgery. Fortunately, today's modern technology makes this type of operation relatively simple.

JourneyLite is a national network of lapband surgical facilities. Lapband (Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding) surgery involves wrapping a band around the stomach to close off a section of it. Your stomach pouch becomes smaller, and the amount of food you can eat is limited. The theory is that you'll feel full on lesser amounts of food, so you'll consume fewer calories (and therefore lose weight). For people who need help controlling their portion sizes and appetite, Lapband surgery may be very helpful.

If you're considering a medical weight loss procedure, you may want to research Lapband surgery. Review the pros and cons of the operation and discuss it with your physician.

Back in the saddle

Well, I got my "news." I can go back to my regular fitness routine.

So it's time for a fresh start! I've got only a month or two until my high school reunion--which I may or may not attend. If I do go, I'd like to look sexy and trim. That means I gotta drop some serious pounds before the party.

I've decided to go with Total Dedication. Generally speaking, this is something that's been hard for me to achieve during the last year or so. I point the finger of blame at alcohol, since I've been spending quite a lot of time with my friends (who are heavy drinkers). Alcohol is loaded with calories, and it always leads to late-night feasts and next-day hangovers (so I skip my workout).

Total Dedication, for me means clean eating, serious workouts and no cheating. I give myself small, occasional treats every once in a while--but rarely. I don't skip workouts, and I am totally focused when I exercise.

I managed to achieve Total Dedication a few years back when I (almost) completed the Body for Life Challenge. It made a huge difference in my perception of diet and exercise. I realized that I actually did possess the willpower to control my nutrition and body.

So tomorrow is a fresh start for me. (I know, I know... another Monday Diet. But this one will stick!)

If I get brave, I may even post my numbers (pounds, bodyfat, etc.)!

AM or PM walks?

It's been super hot here... we've been going through a hot dry spell. (Although nothing like Jeannie's hot weather!) I can't stand exercising in the heat. It makes me feel sluggish and slow, and sometimes I feel like it's hard to breathe.

So if I want to take walks, that means I have to go out early in the AM or late in the evening. Fortunately, my schedule allows me to be flexible. Both times of day have their good points, such as...

• AM walks means less traffic and it's a bit cooler.

• PM walks means I don't have to get up early, plus Hubby is more likely to join me.
  

For now I've been doing PM walks, mostly because I am just soooooo not a morning person. I'd like to start morning exercise again (seems like I'm always saying that!), but I just can't peel my eyes open at sunrise. I know I just gotta dig deep and find the self-discipline. I keep promising myself: "Next week I'll get up early to exercise. Next week..."

Home Gym Stainless Steel Cabinets

This is a sponsored post

As many of you may know, I have a small home gym in my basement. It's nothing elaborate--just a few pieces of equipment, some weights and a heavy bag. Since my basement is unfinished, the whole place has a "garage" feel to it.

I've always wanted some nice, sturdy cabinets for the space that wouldn't look out of place and would be functional. I need a little storage for things like exercise books, my boxing gloves, my jump rope and my weight lifting gloves. When I saw the stainless steel cabinets at CarGuyGarage.com, I fell in love. Attractive, durable and suitable for my purposes, these cabinets would be the perfect storage spot for all my workout gear.

Many of the cabinets included a table top, which is beneficial, too. It makes a great space for me to rest my fitness books or exercise log while I'm working out.

Dining Out

Dining out is probably my biggest challenge. Hubby and I don't do it too terribly often (anymore) because of our finances. But we still dine out at least once or twice each week (if you include take-out).

Restaurant food tends to be higher in calories, fattier, and bigger portions--all of which spell diet disaster. Also, I tend to order things that I wouldn't normally eat at home, like French fries. Generally speaking, I think I could lose about a pound a month if I just cut out restaurant meals.

We're going out to dinner tonight (with a friend), but I think we're planning on going to a small, organic bistro. Everything is local, healthy and of reasonable portion size. The biggest downfall at this place is I order too much--appetizer, entree and wine--but this time I have full intentions of limiting my indulgences for both my waistline AND my wallet.

Still taking it easy...

I am still taking it easy, and should have definitive news by the end of this week (at the latest) about my health situation.

At this point, I am taking leisurely strolls and trying to eat as clean as possible. I haven't gained any weight, which is a good thing, but I haven't lost any either.

I'm ok with just maintaining right now.

Taking it Easy

For personal health reasons, I need to take it easy on exercise for week or so. I'm not giving up on it entirely... but I'm walking instead of running, and pretty much avoiding any type of strength training. It makes me feel a bit antsy, but I gotta do it.

I'm trying to stick with eating only foods with some type of nutritional benefit. Non-nutritious foods are off my diet. We're going out to dinner with friends tomorrow, but I'm going to "just say no" to the alcohol, so that will make it easier for me to control my food. Also, Hubby and I are financially broke... so I may just make do with an appetizer for my meal. That way I save calories AND money.

One thing about being in a tight financial position--we're eating out a lot less and drinking less wine/beer.

In past months, our liquor/alcohol bill was about $200 a month (that includes parties we give where we supply the booze). Cutting back on drinking will help me save calories and money, too!

August Goals

The challenge now continues at Weightloss Priority! I'm excited to have a group of supporters again. I've fallen off the wagon a bit all summer. I've indulged too much in high-calorie foods, I've skimped on exercise, and I've been drinking too much alcohol. So my August theme is:

BACK TO BASICS

Here are my goals:

• Clean Eating: I'm going to limit "cheat meals" to two per week. The rest of the time I'm going to eat clean and nutritious foods.
  
  
• Exercise: I'm going to fall back into the exercise habit, which means a minimum of 5 days per week of workouts.

That's it. The two basics: diet and exercise. I have high hopes for August.