Kaitlyn and Lara's Biggest Loser: Blog

still alive and kickin!

Sat, 17 May 2008 00:12:01 GMT

It's been awhile since I've blogged on here, but don't be fooled, I'm still in this hardcore. I am still working out daily, and trying to push my workouts to twice a day. I saw a friend last night that I hadn't seen in about a month and she was amazed at how much weight I'd lost. It made me feel great. My self confidence is back for sure. I think when I originally weighed myself my scale was a bit off tho, cuz I am pretty sure I weighed more than what I listed as my original weight. So i will be adjusting my weight ticker. Which ironically will show that I've lost more weight, but I am still about twenty pounds away from my original goal. Still encouraging tho I think. The only reason I found out about it was a doctors appointment that I had this week. So I'm grateful but at the same time annoyed. haha oh well at least I still like what I see in the mirror. And I'm proud of myself for losing 15 pounds since the start of this. That's more like it. I'm going to keep it coming off too. I feel like my discipline in this is carrying over to other parts of my life and i want to continue this healthier lifestyle in all areas.

Lara

Getting re-invigorated

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:36:43 GMT

That is my goal: re-invigorate myself with my workouts and food. I've been a bit lax this past week and it's a bummer because I am so close to 140. But I re-did my weight ticker because I want to readjust my goal. I'm heading for 130 lbs instead of 140 so I still have 12 lbs to go.
This morning I went to my gym and did a hard core work out to get back in the groove. I did elliptical, stair stepper and running on treadmill for a combined cardio of one hour. Plus I did some toning with the weight machines. I was pretty excited about it. I had done workouts this week, but none of them had seemed very intense, so it was nice to step it back up. And tomorrow I am going to go play ultimate frisbee for a few hours as long as the weather is nice, so that will be good cardio too. Now to food. Time to get ultra serious because I've been letting myself have a few too many treats a little more often than I had been before. So getting those back to a once in a while special treat is a focus too. This past week was really hectic and sad and stressful, but I can't let that be an excuse for not pushing myself. This next week WILL be better. And hopefully soon, I will be at 130 and will have lost some more inches on my bottom half.

-Kaitlyn

face to face with a me i don't like

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:13:13 GMT

i always have this fear that when i step on a scale or take a picture that i'll be disappointed because i thought i was skinnier than i really am. tonight, that happened. i wanted to update some of my pictures on here so i could see my progress. only problem is that once i took the pictures in the same outfit i had taken my originals in, i didn't see any real difference. it looked exactly the very same to me. i have been busting my ass for four months now, and to see that it didn't really look all that different on my body, caused some serious mental drama. what should i be doing differently? i know for a fact i could be more strict on food choices. i eat healthy usually tho, and am always within or below my calorie limit. so what else can i do? i feel like all my confidence and excitement have, at least for the moment, gone out the window. i even took a few pictures of myself naked just to get a realistic view of myself, and deleted the pictures pronto. am i being too hard on myself? or am i really a disappointment right now? i'm proud of myself for working so hard up to this point. and pushing myself past limits of comfort, but this is one of those road blocks that will knock ya flat on your back. i feel like i just want to sit down and cry. i feel like i'm face to face with exactly what i was afraid of, that busting my butt got me nowhere, and nothing has changed. that the person in the mirror has great potential, but just isn't reaching it. it's that same feeling i've always struggled with in all areas of my life. it's almost a feeling that i'm destined to be mediocre, forever that cute girl but never beautiful, that girl with the pretty face but let's ignore the rest of her. that's not what i want to be! i want to be so much more than the girl with a pretty face and nice personality. i want people to stop in their tracks when they see me because i'm something worth remembering. not just on the outside, but in every aspect. i'm tired of looking in a mirror and feeling invisible, and feeling like everyone else thinks that about me too....

Lara

Tomorrow

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:16:10 GMT

So technically, tomorrow is the end of the biggest loser this season, but I really know it's not an "end" it's really just a new beginning of something that needs to stay in my life. I am so close to my personal starting goal that it would be really great to step on the scale tomorrow and see 140. I don't see that quite happening, but I do see maybe a 141 or 142 hopefully, which is pretty darn close. Plus, as Lara said with her, I have lost quite a few inches and my clothes fit better- in fact, it's almost time for shopping spree- most of my pants are too baggy. I would like to continue doing the email and website probably through the month of May to get down to 130-135 and then after that continue on the healthy path so I can maintain a good healthy weight. It's great to see hard work paying off for people on here. Way to go! I really hope a girl wins biggest loser tomorrow night! It's about time!

break through!

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 00:47:15 GMT

maybe a breakthrough has finally occurred. i've been feeling better about myself more and more lately which is a great feeling. kaitlyn and i are really consistent with our daily emails on food and workouts which is so helpful. and today i had an exciting happening. it was very warm today and i decided to try on my swim suit and see about getting a bit of color on my pasty white skin. i looked in the mirror and actually liked what i saw! imagine that! no walking awkwardly to hide cellulite and "wobbly bits" as bridget jones so accurately calls them. it was a great feeling. all things sucked in, tight, and toned. and then after tanning a bit, i went inside and put on a t shirt and a pair of shorts that last year were too snug, and this year hang off my hips. i'm not minding that one bit! soon enough i'll get my updated pictures up on here so i can show off the inches lost. even if the numbers aren't going down as fast as i'd like, i am down to a size seven now! i can actually wash and dry my jeans and pants and shirts instead of air drying them to insure comfortable fitting. haha i'm getting excited about this even more now and am so glad that my body craves healthy activity now.

check in

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:12:44 GMT

Okay, so we have not been the greatest at blogging and updating on here, but trust me, we are still in this thing! Total combined we have lost 25 pounds, which I think is awesome. Plus, if I did my calculations correctly, that is 12.4% of weight loss for us combined as a team. Pretty sweet if you ask me. And we are still going strong with our daily emails to each other in which we tell our daily food choices and what we did for exercise. It's going pretty well. We seem to run into bumps in the road and I think we have both experienced extreme frustration, especially over the whole food thing. I'm sure food will always be a struggle, but I do think back to what I know I used to eat just thinking I was snacking or that it wasn't that much, but it in fact was a lot. So I am a lot smarter about what I am eating. I do falter and have some not-so-healthy choices, but overall it's so much better. And I crave exercise and I know I will stick with being active and in shape. I feel tons better and now that I am within reach of my goal it is exciting and I want to push even more. Tonight I am planning on going to the gym to watch biggest loser and go on the elliptical and bike while it's on. I figure that will be good motivation and a good workout!
-Kaitlyn

No harm no foul

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 13:13:17 GMT

Well, I made it back from Vegas and I had a blast. That place is the worst for healthy eating though. I tried my best most days. Friday was awful, but the rest wasn't bad and with all the walking and even doing a few exercise videos in the hotel room, I kept within my calories most days and although some of it might not have been the most nutritious, I did okay with all the temptations. And I had a few alcohol drinks, but I even kept that to a minimum because I know those calories are crazy. And ta-daaaaa, I got on the scale this morning, and amazingly I am at the same weight. I thought for sure I would have gained a pound or two, so I am pumped about that. Now this week it's buckle down time again and get into workouts hardcore and really watch what I eat so I can lose another pound or two by the end of the week.
-Kaitlyn

Spring Break!

Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:34:16 GMT

Hallelujah! It is spring break and I finally get a break from my kiddos. This week was crazy stressful, but fun too. I was really good about working out and I tried a new video- the Slim in 6 videos, I did one almost every day and the 10 minute ab workout is killer. Ouch! This morning I took a nice 25 minute run and it felt really good. I was okay with food, I did make some poor choices on occasion- I had some candy here and there, but overall I think I did well keeping within my calorie limits each day. One day I did horrible with water and so I have been making sure I am still trying to drink plenty. Welll.... here are the results of this week's work- I lost about 1.8 lbs- so I am now at 145.4! That is nearly 15 lbs, yahoooooo! 5 more and I'm at my goal, although I think I might shoot for 135-138 for my final weight, but I will be ecstatic when I reach 140 for sure! Lara and I have been keeping up with our daily emails and Lara is doing a great job and I am proud of her for sticking with it and helping me stick with it. She has been doing her videos and going on walks and just doing a great job all around on being healthy. Yesterday she was feeling frustrated at the numbers, which I know we all are at times, so any encouragement for her would be great! Because she is doing so well, and the numbers will come off, sometimes our bodies just take longer than we would like! Good job to everyone out there who is still in this and in it for the long haul!

Happy Easter!

double digit midget

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:58:31 GMT

p.s i've almost reached double digits in weight loss!!! YAY!

gettin there

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 23:57:11 GMT

things are slowly but surely getting better for me. i'm noticing that my endurance is through the roof now, which is encouraging. i used to not be able to get thru a jillian video without being half dead by the end. now i'm able to do a video and another workout in a day. which is totally exciting for me. i'm noticing my abs and legs are far more toned than they have been in a long time, and i'm really enjoying actually liking what i see in the mirror for the most part. food this week has been good for me, as well as last week. that makes me happy that i can actually exercise some self control. i was really starting to wonder about myself. haha i'm really making sure that i'm viewing this entire thing as a lifestyle change, not just something i'm going to do until i reach the weight i desire, and then quit. i really want to make sure this is the way i live life now. eating healthy and exercising. i'm also glad because it keeps my cholesterol where it should be, making my life not only healthier but possibly a longer one. haha always a plus in my book. for the first time in a long time i'm actually looking forward to summer time and wearing shorts and summer clothes. my husband has been really good at telling me i'm doing a great job, and last night he told me that he thinks i've actually gotten smaller than i was when he first met me. kind of an exciting thing for me. anyway, so things are looking up so far. i'm going to continue to try to double up on workouts from now on to push myself a bit more. we'll see what happens....

Biggest Loser

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 02:19:49 GMT

Today was a good day. It's been a pretty rough few days with one of my students and his mom at school and so I have been channeling all of my frustrations into my exercise. I went to the gym for the first half of the biggest loser show tonight and did the elliptical at a pretty intense level for 60 minutes. I was pretty proud of doing cardio for that long. Usually I do a half hour and then lift weights or break it up into breaks, but I did 60 minutes straight. So it's off to a good start this week and I hope it pays off with good numbers by the end of it! Keep up the good work everyone!
~ Kaitlyn

Shorts!!!!!!!

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 18:29:17 GMT

I am so excited for warmer weather and I tried on some shorts from last summer that were pretty tight, and now they are much looser! Check out the picture.
I also took some pics of now since it is a little past my halfway point, and I am proud of the work I've done to tighten my stomach and I can see some changes, but I know that by the end I will be even more excited to see pictures of a fitter me!

This week

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 02:22:12 GMT

Wow, I am really exhausted this week, but I have been pushing myself really hard. I have been trying to do a morning and an evening workout when there is time and I have been pushing to do some sprints during my runs. Eating has been going really well, and after last week losing 2 more lbs, I hope to lose another 1-2 lbs by the end of this week. I have been trying to trim down the carbs like bread and pasta, etc because that is my weakness. I love them and so I make sure I am not overloading on the bread, and if I do have bread, I try to make sure it is wheat. I'm thinking since it is a halfway point, I might need to take some pictures and post them on here, so we can see if there is much change. I see it in the mirror and I feel it. I am by far much more toned and if I jump around my body does not jiggle quite as much as it used to, haha. I think that I can get down to my goal weight by the end of spring break, which is March 30, if I can lose 2 pounds a week. The emailing thing is helping Lara and it is helping me too because we are definitely more accountable. Now if we could just match our schedules so we could maybe do a fun workout together every once in awhile, too. Life is good and I love that spring is coming! Warm weather makes working out outside so much more enjoyable!

keep on truckin

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:12:03 GMT

ok so this week i've been jogging and eating pretty well. i'm proud of myself for the jogging attempts cuz it's still hard on me, but i always feel good when i get home and cool off. i am still gradually feeling more and more confident, which is an awesome feeling that i've missed! i actually am feeling pretty again! i'm just wishing those numbers on the scale would keep getting smaller. too bad it just won't melt off all at once. haha kait and i have been keeping each other accountable by emailing our food choices and workouts for the day to each other which is still helping me lots. it's nice to have a buddy in this with me. we got an invite in the mail today for a friends' wedding in portland in may. i'm excited to go, and even more exciting is i get to buy a new dress to go there. i'm hoping by may 1 i will be buying a dress in a size six. that would be awesome! i'd love it if the scale would say 135 or so too. but we'll see. at the rate the numbers are dropping it may not be quite there, but i'll just keep on truckin. there's really no other option.

stuck in a rut

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 22:26:18 GMT

Ok so i'm in the middle of a rut i'm thinking. i'm still busting my butt and working out as hard as ever, but the weight just isn't falling off. It's frustrating. I'm becoming more strict about what i eat now, and have started emailing kait daily about the meals i plan to eat and about the workouts i'm doing daily just to add to the accountability. Besides the weight loss pause, i have gotten a lot of compliments about how i'm looking lately which is definitely motivation. I had a doctor's appointment earlier this week and the nurse that sees me each appointment was amazed at how i looked. It felt good to be complimented. even my mom, who i have a terrible relationship with, has mentioned my weight loss at least once every time i've seen her in the last few weeks. That was definite validation that my hard work is paying off. i'm just going to keep it up, and continue the strict food guidelines and i'm bound to get that weight loss ticker movin again! I also saw an someone earlier this week that has caused me quite a bit of pain in the past. She looked like she had lost some weight too and seemed to be sizing me up when she saw me. I heard through the grapevine that last year she had gotten herself down to a size 2 from a size 12, though she seemed to have gained it back when i saw her. That seemed to kick me into gear even more on my workouts. If she can do it, there's absolutely NO REASON i can't do the same thing and KEEP IT OFF. Though i can honestly say i'm not aiming to be a size two. My size fives fitting me again will be good enough thank you. Anyway, I guess any encouragement or advice will be appreciated as i prepare to gear up another week of bustin butt! I'm already seeing a boost in my self-esteem....i'm ready for it to be shooting through the roof!

This week

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:19:46 GMT

It has been a good week and I have finally seen a 1 pound loss this week. It has been forever. So now I need to stick with it and see more pounds lost!
-Kaitlyn

olden days

Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:57:49 GMT

So I was organizing and rearranging yesterday and started looking through some photo albums, and I came across the time frame of about 5 years ago, when I was 19 or 20, and I reallllllllllly loved my pictures. I was in such good shape. So seeing those photos added some fuel to my fire, because I know I can be a smaller size and look fit, I just need to work at it. At that time in my life, I was working out tons and doing indoor soccer, plus I had just been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism a year after my surgery, so I was on new medication for that, which totally helped my energy and metabolism. So I know that I just need to stay focused and get down to my goal weight and then maintain by staying active. I'm thinking I should put up a picture or two around the room to remind me of what I can look like. Hope everyone else is off to a great start this week!

Week in Review

Sat, 23 Feb 2008 18:12:53 GMT

Pretty decent week overall, I stuck with workouts every day and kept up with healthy eating most of the time. I had a few slip ups, but doing much better. I did measurements this morning on inches and I have lost about 6 inches overall on the top portion of my body and only about 1.5 on my bottom half. But measuring inches is another tool besides the scale to see the progress you have made. I had someone at school come up to me and tell me she noticed I am looking like I've lost weight, so that was kind of reassuring. Just keep pluggin away and do what I do.

Ultimate

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 17:57:11 GMT

So yesterday was pretty fun- it's finally getting warm enough out there to do some more outdoor activities, which I love. So Jonas and I went down to the park with a group of people to play ultimate frisbee. I played last year and was in such bad shape it was horrible. This time I didn't feel as tired so quickly. Plus, it was a fun way to work out. We played for like 2 hours so it's a pretty good long workout. The group is hoping to start playing weekly now that the weather is getting better, so that will be a good workout for me each week and allow me to mix it up and add some fun. And maybe I'll actually improve at the game itself. I'm excited for spring and better weather and getting to do stuff outdoors!!!!!!!!!

Saturday workout

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 18:24:57 GMT

Saturday- I went to the gym and did the elliptical and then the weight machines. Pretty good workout. This week was okay, but next week I do need to pick up the intensity. Maybe I will get the drive back.

Friday

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 07:20:05 GMT

Friday- 15 minute jog and then a jillian frontside video.

Thursday

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:35:44 GMT

Thursday- Kind of a slow morning- so I only did part of a Jillian video and then rushed off to work. I had walking time at school also. not good enough though. Tomorrow I will try to double it up at the gym. blah.

Wednesday workout

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 13:28:15 GMT

Wednesday morning workout- Jillian's Shape up frontside workout video.

accountability

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 03:18:05 GMT

So this week I really need to be accountable. I lost a week of workouts last week because I was too sick to work out most days and then I went out of town over the weekend. So far Monday and Tuesday I have done a workout in the morning and I've been pretty good about sticking to food. But I had such momentum going in January and I really want to get that feeling back. So for the rest of this week I am going to log my workouts on here so that I know I am doing them and I have to be accountable. This will hopefully get me back on my good workout track and get back into losing decent numbers each week. I want to hit that stride again. I hope everyone out there is having a great week and just keep up the hard work!!!!!!!!!

reality check

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 02:24:08 GMT

ok so this whole dedication, discipline thing isn't just for working out. i'm having to apply it to real life now too. everyone knows life isn't an easy ride all the time....in fact most of the time i find myself going up hill. i've really been thinking about how it's unrealistic to complain about your present circumstances unless you're willing to do the work to change them. kind of like the saying to get to the top of the mountain, you have to be willing to climb. being healthy and in shape, and to be quite honest, thin and HOT (lol) are things that are important to me, and although it's painful, i want to make sure i am maintaining the drive to achieve those goals. while doing this, i've also made myself another goal. i recently got a second job for the weekends, to add second income to my teaching, and to help my husband in putting a bigger dent in the bills we have. money is SUCH a stress, and although i know i am doing a good thing working a second job, it's been so hard for me to maintain that drive and discipline that i'm so pushing myself to have with working out. so my goal is that while i am pushing myself into being more healthy, i want to push myself into busting my butt at work as well so that isaac and i can achieve our goal of financial security. quite a steep hill i find myself climbing here....and it's going to be easy to backslide...but man that view at the top has to be so worth it...so i'll just keep climbing...

sick

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:38:49 GMT

Being sick really throws you off your schedule. I hate it. I'm trying to rest my body so I get better, but I also am thinking about all the high intensity workouts I am missing. Hopefully I will start to feel better tomorrow. blaaaaaaaaaaaaah
-Kaitlyn

I did it!

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 15:41:38 GMT

woohoo! This morning I stepped on the scale, and it seriously said 150.0. I was ecstatic. I wasn't sure if I was going to make my goal within a goal I had set a few weeks ago of being 150 by my birthday, but today is my birthday, and there it was! To me, that was a great birthday present- being able to meet my goal, especially because this week I was craving foods so bad and even though I was still working out, I just didn't have the same energy I had been having. And, I know the numbers on the scale aren't everything, but I do know that I am making myself healthier and trying really hard to make this a lifestyle change. So, there it is, and after this, I don't want to see 150's again and I want to plow through those 140's! Have a great day everyone, and keep working hard!!!!!!!!!

no pain no gain

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:09:47 GMT

I knew I wanted these Jillian workouts for a reason!! They're killin me!! It's so true tho, that I have always spent the time complaining that I want a certain type of body, but I've never been willing to do the work to get it. Well I'm totally workin it now! And it hurts!! But I can tell it's going to be so worth it. I'm learning a lot with this working out. Discipline and perseverance are becoming two of the qualities I want to tone here. And I'm toning my body while I'm doin it. lol Any encouragement I can get is welcome though, cuz although I can see that this is going to get me the results I want, it's hard to stay motivated when it hurts so bad. lol Jillian says it's going to get easier and I shouldn't be too hard on myself at the beginning. I'm gonna take her word for it!! I'll be a pro by the end of this. If they can work this hard on the biggest loser, then I sure can too! Kaitlyn and I are gonna be hotties in our swimsuits this summer for sure!

I gotta say...

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 19:41:19 GMT

I think Lara and I have a lot to be proud of. We have stuck with this for nearly a month and we are starting to see a lot of good things coming from it! I think getting past the first two weeks was tough, and I'm sure there will still be tough days and weeks, but it's reassuring to know that it can be done. We both are doing the Jillian videos now, and they are excellent. I notice my body getting very toned even if the numbers on the scale aren't dropping as much. But we are getting stronger and in shape and healthier and that is the most important thing!
Yay for us!!!!!!!!!!!

Jump Rope for Heart baby

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 16:55:41 GMT

Jump roping is so great! I did it today in the garage for awhile, and it really got my heartrate up there, plus it reminded me of the good ol' days in elementary school when I would do Jump Rope for Heart or double dutch with my friends (although now I am not quite as coordinated). ... I am liking the variety of workouts because I'm not getting bored and I actually feel weird if I don't exercise. My main obstacle is food- it's a mental thing like Lara was saying with working out. Sometimes I want to eat something that is not so healthy, but then I tell myself that it will just go to my butt or negate the hard workout I just did. I am not depriving myself of food I like, but I am definitely controlling it by eating either smaller portions or only letting myself have it about once a week. So we'll see how that goes. I'm starting to see some results in my fitness, so hopefully that will keep me motivated- although I always lose the inches in places I don't want to like my chest, and my butt is the last thing to see much results and that's where I want to lose the most. haha. I guess that's how it goes.

can i take a nap??

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 02:39:29 GMT

I've done well working out this week for the most part, but the struggle to be motivated has been harder. I've been sooo exhausted!! And I don't even know why. I keep telling myself to work through it and picture myself this summer in a bathing suit lol but it's definitely been a mental battle. I wish this whole life style change thing wasn't so up and down haha. I have no intention on going easy on myself because I am trying to implement this type of discipline into all areas of my life...but man, I sure had a hard time WANTING to do it this week. I guess I'll pay myself on the back for actually working out in spite of that though. Jillian said something on tuesday's episode that I really liked..." Things are never going to change unless you're uncomfortable." So that's been my chant this week. I've spent my whole life resting, or in my comfort zone...now it's time to step it up a notch. Wish me luck! I'm hoping this week is easier, at least a bit, in the mental department!:)

a goal on top of a goal

Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:19:48 GMT

Things are going well. I am loving working out and I decided to have a goal within my goal. My ultimate goal is to lose 20 lbs. Well, I have a birthday coming up in a few weeks and I would like to be halfway to my goal by then and I feel that is realistic. So, by my birthday, I would like to have lost 10 lbs. I figure at the rate I am losing, this is very possible if I keep up with what I've been doing. So, when I turn 25, I would like to be 150! :) I weighed in today and I was at 156 lbs, so that is only 6 more lbs. I feel that Lara and I are doing a great job of keeping each other motivated and on track and it's really something I enjoy and I am having fun with. Very exciting times! Also, I am loving this season of the Biggest Loser Couples!
You only ever grow as a human being if you're outside your comfort zone."

just call me rocky

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 03:19:04 GMT

After four years of not being able to run because of my back, I made a huge step and went jogging tonight with the hubby. And I didn't stop once!! HECK YES! I am a sweaty freak right now, but I am so proud of myself. I alternated walking and jogging like I planned, just to ensure that I didn't hurt myself. At the end, Isaac and I decided to push it and jog the entire way back to our house. And I stuck with it. Lungs burning, sweat trickling down my face, jogging into the wind, nothin was gonna stop me. And I even took a victory jog around the driveway singing the rocky theme. That's right. I feel I started the week on a high note for sure.

slow and steady wins the race

Tue, 15 Jan 2008 03:13:33 GMT

As much as I'd like for these pounds to just melt off, I know that I need to be patient and keep doing what I'm doing. It's hard not to become frustrated when you aren't seeing the numbers you would like to see, but I keep telling myself it will happen. I do feel healthier overall and happier with my food choices. I'm especially feeling good about workouts- they really do help you have a better attitude to start your day and it really wakes you up in the morning. All of the endorphins are great. I have been varying workouts and doing some Jillian videos, which have really made me sweat and made me sore, which is great! The sorer, the better, because then I know that is a muscle group I need to be working on more. I wish it would get warm, because I feel much more inclined to work out when the weather is nice than in this rainy, windy, cold weather. Oh welll.... we'll survive. We'll keep pluggin along, and in a few weeks, if we stick with it, we will really start to see results we can be excited about!
~Kaitlyn~

so far

Sun, 13 Jan 2008 22:47:56 GMT

So I've been frustrated this week because it's either been snowing or raining and I haven't been able to go outside to do my jogging part of the workout schedule. Today I decided to modify one of my work out dvd's and I jogged for 2 minutes and then continued with the workout after the 2 minutes was up. It felt really good. I think I'm going to continue doing that on the days when I can't go outside to jog. Kaitlyn also told me that she got her Jillian workout dvd's and they're really great. I'm excited to start doing those as well.
This week was a bit of a struggle with the food part of my plan. This surprised me as I thought that my biggest struggle would be maintaining consistent and rigorous exercise. I found myself this week craving all the food that I haven't eaten in forever. Pizza, mashed potatoes, french fries. MMMmmm they sounded so good. I think that it's because I am more aware now that I'm serious about wanting this to be a lifestyle change, and now I notice whenever anyone gets to eat that stuff. It's frustrating though because I've never really eaten that junk food often anyway, and now to be craving it is a new obstacle. It's one I'll overcome for sure, but it was a bit of a surprise.
I've noticed overall that I am feeling a bit better. Not only am I feeling physically better about myself, but I just feel better all around when I'm working out and eating great. It's definitely worth the hard work with the benefits that you get. One week down....let's see what the next one holds!

Back to work

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 04:55:03 GMT

I have been very excited about all this and I email Lara nonstop with all of my ideas and random stuff I'm reading or doing. So I'm hoping the excitement and commitment pay off. Today it was a little bit more difficult than it has been to fit in a workout, but I managed a short one before work. I got back to teaching after Christmas break and working all day exhausts me so I need to make sure I work out in the morning, but I will try to work out in the afternoon if I have to. But I figured out my basic schedule and it shouldn't be too hard to make it to the gym 3 mornings and then the other 3 mornings do something from home like run outside or do a video. I also have been looking into doing a half marathon as part of my goal because I trained for one several years back but then got really sick the weekend of the event, so I didn't end up doing it, so I would like to do one later this spring. That's about all I have going on right now.
Kaitlyn

my plan

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 21:44:22 GMT

Ok so I figure writing out my plan will help me in staying accountable. Today I did my work out dvd at home, and it kicked my butt. I loved it!!!:) It felt great to work myself hard. 30 minutes of non-stop cardio is awesome. I decided that I wanted to set myself on a schedule for each day, to not only vary work outs, but also so that I can get myself used to doing this on a daily basis. I decided that Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I will do my work out dvd at home, and Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday I will continue walking, only varying it by running for a minute for each five minutes of walking. I've been a little nervous about running because of my back injury, but I think it will be ok. Kaitlyn also is getting a copy of Jillian's workout dvd's that she and I will be adding to our workouts as well. Bring on the butt kicking!!!
As far as the food part of things are going, I've noticed that I'm always tempted to eat later at night. That is one of my weaknesses. I made a personal goal to not eat anything past 8 at night from now on. It's going to be hard because my husband gets off work later and we always try to eat dinner together, but I'm going to have to just sit with him while he eats, and eat my own meal earlier. Drinking water has never been a problem of mine, as I always have a waterbottle with me wherever I go. I drink about 64 ounces a day, so I'm going to maintain that, and try to drink more if need be.
Overall, I am fully committed to this. I want to not only lose the weight, but show myself that I have the discipline to stick with this on a daily basis. It's not only a question of physical strength for me, but also of mental strength. And I want to live up to my expectations for myself.

Lara

motivation

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 05:41:14 GMT

Things so far for me are encouraging. I had two people tell me today that I look like I've lost weight. What a motivation to keep up the good work! I have been very aware of the types of food I've been eating, as well as attempting to maintain a 1500 calorie a day diet. So far so good. Now I want to make sure that I incorporate more rigorous work outs into my days. Kaitlyn and I are going to be doing work out dvd's, and I have been taking my dog on power walks for about 45 minutes a day. I am wanting to get a gym membership here soon if finances will allow it. I even went so far as to apply for a weekend job at one so maybe I can work out for free! HAHA!

Lara

So far

Sat, 05 Jan 2008 19:12:43 GMT

So far things have been going well for me. I have exercised each day since New Years, alternating workouts. One day I ran outside for a few miles and the other days I went to the gym and did the elliptical and weights. The hardest thing is not having soda. I have been drinking tons of water and it's great, but I have kind of been craving the soda, but I know that will pass after a few more days without it.
Last night Lara and I ate dinner together at a restaurant and we both got salads with chicken.

Kaitlyn