Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga Day

My sweet hubby went out and got me a few exercise videos so I can vary my workouts.  I have been working out 25 days in a row now, and that exercise has been limited to walking.

Yesterday I did my Zombies Run 5k Training workout, and at the end I was told to take today off and come back for my next session tomorrow. I feel antsy if I do not workout, so this morning I popped in my Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga dvd.

When I saw "yoga" I thought it would be a somewhat gentle stretching and pose type session, but wow was I wrong! It thoroughly kicked my butt! I made it through the whole workout, but had to use the modified versions of some of the poses. Other poses I couldn't quite hold for the entire duration, so would switch to a different but similar pose during the remaining few seconds.

I really enjoyed this yoga session. Bob does a wonderful job of offering just the right amount of motivation, so you aren't feeling overwhelmed or like you are being yelled at. I could feel my muscles shaking and got a good burn out of some of the poses. I also like that he incorporates some weight lifting into the poses as well.

This is one workout I know I will be revisiting, at least twice a week!

Check out the following YouTube video for segments of the BLWL yoga workout!

The Elusive Creature

It's elusive, yet so many seek it. From less than a pound to over a hundred pounds, the size varies. Strangely, the less it weighs, the easier it is to find! The creature that has been eluding me started a bit over a 100 pounds. It started at 104 pounds, to be exact. Yet, I chase and search, hoping one day to conquer the beast who seems to always be beyond my grasp.

"What creature is this?" You ask. "What possible being could be easier to find and capture at less than a pound than one that is 100 pounds or more? You may ponder. The answer is simple:

Weight loss. Yep...that is the ever so elusive creature that so many men and women seek, chase, and hope to one day catch.

I wasn't always a "Fat Frau." In fact, at one point I was quite in shape with hours of dancing a week. I was a member of a country line dancing team and went to practices, performances, and then spent hours on the weekends dancing it up at a local country western dance club. Heck, I even had a swing dance partner, and thanks to him, I spent much of my time teaching men how to dance. Seemed like I never could get off that dance floor.

My dancing days have been years behind me. Now married with two children, I find myself grossly overweight and hating it. All my endurance and energy gone. I was hooked on sugar and creamer laden coffees, sodas (I'm a Dew girl!), sweets, fast food, and my mom's amazing German cookin' and bakin'. Drink water? I scoffed at the idea! For  me, nothing would do unless it was, well, Dew!

I can tell you I was not feeling well. I hurt all the time. I had awful cravings that kept me hostage. I hate not being able to keep up with my children, run with them, play with them. I hate that a couple of years ago during our family's trip to Puerto Rico, I struggled to make it up to a beautiful lighthouse that over looks a splendid cliff and crashing waves.

Now it is 2013 and this is MY year. I did not make the yearly resolution to lose weight, eat healthier and do more. No, I didn't make a resolution. Instead, I made a promise to myself to get healthy for my husband, for my children, and for myself.

As of 1 January 2013, I have walked everyday. I have stayed within my calorie limit. I drink at least 64 ounces of ice cold water a day. And as of 20 January 2013, I am down 8.4 pounds. And to top that off, I started only being able to do 0.98 (less than one mile) in 20 minutes and 38 seconds. Today I hooted with joy as I finished a mile in 14 minutes and 8 seconds, and then continued on to finish the rest of my 2.5 mile walk. I feel a great sense of pride in knowing that in just under 3 weeks, I was able to make such amazing strides and keep at every day.

This is my life. This is my promise. This, is my weight loss journey. I share it with anyone who wishes to read it for a couple of reasons. The first is to hold myself publicly accountable. The second is to share the tools that help me become successful. And third, I really look forward to sharing my transformation and hopefully inspire others to finally capture their elusive creatures.

 

 

This is my husband and me Christmas 2012, right before starting my weight loss journey!

 



 



3 Weeks and 3 Days Into My New Lifestyle!

Some people say it takes 21 continuous days to form a new habit. Well, I have now done 24 consecutive days of eating right and exercising! I do have to say, that starting the end of week two, I would get antsy if I wasn't out there getting my walk done!

Initially it was hard to get myself out the door and move. I started only being able to walk slow for 20 minutes, and now I am already going 4.5 mph and walking much further. I know my body is getting healthier because today, for the first time since I started my journey, I could walk up and down the three flights of stairs at my husband's job without getting winded! (And I did it three times! Couldn't have done it more but didn't want them all to think I was crazy!) I can honestly say I do not remember when the last time was I could walk up a flight of stairs without being winded!

Yesterday I began a new workout, and so far I love it! Another frequenter of a weight loss forum I am on posted about the Zombies Run Game so I just had to check it out! Turns out, I got it on sale for $0.99 and downloaded it to my phone. Yesterday, I walked during the whole intro and added in my 1 minute of walking followed by 15 seconds of running. (Do this 10 times following the 10 minute walking warm up!) Today, I did day one of week one, and loved it! It is going to be my way to accomplishing my goal of doing a 5k! If you need motivation and fun to get you up and going, you absolutely HAVE to check this out!!! The great thing is,  you can do this workout outdoors or indoors, so you have the option of doing this on a treadmill or inside track if you needed to! (I was just envisioning myself running through the malls to get away from the "zombies!" LOL)

So, there you have it! I'm 3 weeks 3 days into my journey. I already see and feel my body getting faster and stronger. And now you know that for the next 8 weeks at least, (the length of the Zombies Run Training Program) I will be running for my life!