Body for Life ~ Day 2 (3/18)

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

After two days of trying this challenge, I am DEFINITELY a believer.

The hardest part for me to wrap my mind around was not the 6 small meals (I'm eating like a champ) or all of the strength training, BUT the notion of ONLY doing Cardio 3x a week and for no more than 20 minutes at a time....what?! Historically, for me 20 mins. of Cardio was only a warm-up!!!

Well, last night to avoid being tempted to exceed my 20 mins. I worked out at home on my elliptical machine...and dare I say it that was the most intense cardio workout I have EVER had. My heart rate averaged at 151 and got up to 156 during two of my 5 readings (per my new HRM my range during aerobic activity should be between 128.66 and 147.04). At the end of my 20 mins. I looked like a drowned rat, but I felt sooooo good!

Two days down and 82 days to go, until...

I have increased my energy and strength
I feel better overall
I am toned
I have lost 20+ pounds of FAT!!!

YAY ME!!!

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Body for Life ~ Day 1 (3/17)

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

One of my co-workers recommended a book to me that I strongly believe is going to help me reach my final goals. It's entitled Body for Life by Bill Phillips. Basically it is a 12-week challenge concentrating on balancing nutrition, strength training and cardio.

So I started yesterday and although I'm a little sore from the upper body workout, I am sooooo pumped...LITERALLY!

First of all, the DIVAs are joining me in this challenge and to quote NEWBEIN, it seems to be just the "intervention" that we needed.

Second, I was able to effortlessly drink 10 C. of water for the day and I stayed within my calorie goals (although the book does not recommend counting calories, I'm still tracking what I eat on SPARK).

Then the highlight is that this morning I woke up bright and early and full of energy. It may sound weird but I even felt lighter, so of course me being the scale-o-holic that I am I weighed in and to my surprise I've lost 2.6 lbs. since yesterday's weigh in (I'm more than sure it was all water weight, but hey a loss is a loss....I'LL TAKE IT!). YAY ME!!!!

So one day down and 83 days to go...

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Gotta Keep it Real....A Convo w/ Myself

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Have mercy Deondra...you have gained 8 pounds!!! What are you doing?

1. Have you been using SP to track your caloric intake? NO

2. Have you been using your manual tracking tools to record your caloric intake when things are hectic and you're unable to SP? NO

3. Are you consistently drinking 64 oz. of water a day? NO

4. Are you eating 25 grams of fiber a day? NO

5. Have you been active on the SP boards, esp. with BBQ and the CCs? NO

6. Is your life balanced? NO

7. Are you regularly meeting with the DIVAs for motivation and support? NO

8. Do you have a set weekly workout schedule with TJOI214? NO

9. Have you been consistently strength training? NO

10. Are you avoiding desserts like the plague? NO

Well, then are you surprised that you've gained weight? Uhhhh NO

Are you going to do something about it? YES

WELL WHAT?!!!

Turn the NO's in the first ten questions into YES's and thank God for the opportunity to get back on track!

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FREE AT LAST....well kinda!!!

Saturday, February 23, 2008

For the past few weeks, life has been super super super busy. Thankfully it's been all good stuff, but nevertheless things have been busy.

I'm still in the training/transition mode at work and have had visitors for the past few weeks, plus I was responsible for planning the Managers' Holiday Party (2/9) as well as the Site-Wide Holiday Party (2/16). Both parties are usually held much earlier, but the management team voted to postpone everything until I had recovered from surgery (I work with some of the best people on the planet!!!). Speaking of which, pictured in this blog is Melissa and a comparison of me from our party last year and this year (1/17/07 and 2/16/08). Melissa has been so supportive and regularly pops in my office to give me an unsolicited compliment or just general words of encouragement....and isn't she adorable?!!! (smile)

So, speaking of "FREE AT LAST", I had a follow-up appointment with my *new* surgeon on 2/22, and I have been released to return to the Elliptical Machine, Water Aerobics, Spinning (as long as it doesn't hurt) and last but not least my CORE RHYTHMS WORKOUTS!!!! Yay! According to Dr. Samuels, I have healed way ahead of schedule (but I still need to be careful being that I won't be completely healed until Dec' 08). I almost started doing a Core-flection move right there in the examination room!!! (smile)

Speaking of CORE RHYTHMS, I received an email from one of my friends indicating that she saw a picture of me on QVC last weekend (2/17), they were selling the Core Rhythms DVD program and showed a picture of yours truly and commented on how much weight and inches I had lost as a result of the program. At this point, I still don't have the actual date as to when the infomercial will air...but I will definitely keep my Spark Friends posted!!!

Free at last...well kinda...next week I'm in training again, but I'll be spending the next few days playing Spark Catch-Up (when did they add the spell check feature and can you believe that I've spent the better part of the morning trying to redeem my SP Goodies...LOL...have I been MIA that long? [smile]). I so miss sparking with my Spark Buddies and my favorite team mates (CARDIO CONNOISSEURS), plus where would I be without the BBQs, DIVAs and Pretty Girls Wear 20 Pearls???? I am about 20 lbs. away from reaching my final goal and I know that I cannot do it without SP! Even though I haven't been online, I constantly think about all of the things that I've learned from this site plus the support that I REGULARLY receive from my SP friends keeps me going!!! And for that I am soooooo grateful!

I truly, "thank my God upon every remembrance of you"! Philippians 1:3

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Saving my HEART from a 'BURNING HOUSE'!

Saturday, January 05, 2008

A few months ago one of my friends and I recognized and admitted that we had feelings for one another.

BUT, tonight I have had to finally accept the realization that although I have fallen head over heels for him...he is completely emotionally and physically unavailable. Oddly enough in a very sweet way he reassured me that he values our friendship, is attracted to me and wants to spend time with me...it's just that at this point in his life he is not willing to date anyone exclusively...he's unsure about what he wants...and wants to leave his options open. WOW!

Hence, here I am with EMOTIONAL HEARTBURN. Emotional Heartburn = A new term that I've coined which describes what takes place when your head and your heart are in utter and total disagreement.

Or better yet...it's as if I've found my dream house. The master bedroom has a huge walk-in closet full of designs by Karen Kane and outfits put together by Patricia Field (the Wardrobe mastermind of 'Sex and the City'); every room has been decorated by Candice Olsen (from HGTV's Divine Design); there is a tailor-made dance studio/workout room that includes a spin bike, treadmill, stairclimber and an elliptical machine; and so on and so on and so on...just one problem. The house is on fire. Although the house looks good and appears to have everything I want and need the fact still remains...it's on FIRE!

With that being said, I know that I'm temporarily suffering from emotional heartburn, but on this one I've got to listen to my head and it's screaming RUN GIRL! RUN AWAY FROM THIS BURNING HOUSE!

Yes, I like this guy a lot, but I love me more. I can no longer afford to put my heart in harm's way, so I've got to walk...no run away from this situation.

In the meanwhile, I find comfort in having good friends who remind me that I don't have to settle. Furthermore, I know that
God has a real DIVINE DESIGN for me...I just need to persevere, stop TRIPPING and start TRUSTING!

I Corinthians 13:4,7 (NIV)
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

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