Exercise: 90 mins treadmill

Water: 20 cups

Food: 2207 calories (23% fat, 44% carbs, 31% protein)

Breakfast: protein shake, 12-grain bread, jam, orange (372)

AM Snack: soy nuts (134)

Lunch: mixed bean soup with parmesan, smoked turkey, apple (408)

PM Snack: protein shake (135)

Dinner: chili with cheese, tostidos, salad w/dressing (811)

Late Snack: protein shake, fruit salad, biscotti (347)

If you had asked me this morning if I had any residual pain from yesterday’s workout I would have said no, or just minor. After dinner I was mixing up some salad dressings, and when I reached up for one of the items on the top shelf… big twinge in the arm. And here I was thinking that maybe I hadn’t found heavy enough weights yesterday.  Ah well, tomorrow is another day!

Exercise: 90 mins treadmill, 30 mins strength training

Water: 20 cups

Food: 2585 calories (31% fat, 36% carbs, 30% protein)

Breakfast: egg white/egg omelet with cheese, 12-grain toast, jam, orange (509)

AM Snack: ice cream bar (200)

Lunch: onion soup with baguette & cheese, smoked back bacon, apple (495)

PM Snack: protein shake, soy nuts, fruit salad (397)

Dinner: chicken with tomato/wine sauce with cheese, cauliflower, broccoli, butter, salad w/dressing (649)

Late Snack: protein shake, fruit salad, biscotti (335)

Well, I can already feel a little soreness from today’s workout, but in a good way.  The real test will be how I feel in the morning. 

The morning was 2 x 30-min sessions on the treadmill. In the afternoon I did a 15-min warm-up on the treadmill, followed by:

Where there is a single number that confirms that I did the number of reps called for. Where there are two numbers the first is the amount of weight I used, followed by reps. BW means I carried no extra weight.

Followed with another 15 mins on the treadmill.

Okay, today killed a little. The reps went down to 12 instead of 15 so I put the weight up a little faster on the squats and rows. Being quite out of shape I’ve been doing the first rep at the weight I did last time, then more on the second rep. Today for both of them I started with a 5 pound increase. I also went from a 60-degree push-up down to a 45-degree push-up. Oh yes, and I found a higher step, which is still not likely high for some, but quite a change for me. And if I wasn’t nuts to start with I put the air back in the swiss ball. I’d taken a little out to help with balance and last week I had this insane idea that my balance was better. Although I did manage to do 9 of the prone jackknife without falling off… the first time. By the end it was really just sad, but I did finish. I’m hoping one day I can look back on the start of all this and laugh (okay, I was trying to laugh, but too winded).

Exercise: none, planned rest day

Water: 20 cups

Food: 2206 calories (34% fat, 31% carbs, 34% protein)

Breakfast: egg/egg substitute omelet with cheese, 12-grain bread, orange (468)

AM Snack: almonds (164)

Lunch: beef mushroom barley soup, smoked back bacon, apple (449)

PM Snack: protein shake, soy nuts (224)

Dinner: grilled lamb, broccoli, butter, salad w/dressing (638)

Late Snack: protein shake, fruit salad, biscotti (264)

I think that’s it for the evening.  I’ve got the fire going again tonight so I think I’m going to go back and sit in front of it.

Well, I’m really surprised this morning. I’m not that surprised by the weigh-in, it’s 320.4, which is down exactly 2.0 pounds since last week. I’m surprised as it’s the start of my period this morning and that’s usually preceded by at least a couple of pounds of water gain. It never really bothers me because I know afterwards it’s followed by those same pounds coming off. I don’t know if the change in routine has changed my weight loss. I expected with the increase in calories that I would stall for a while. I know most of the women using the lifting guide usually hold steady (or even gain) for at least a month or so. I decided that if this happened I would not freak out, since I understand that phase is followed by a good weight loss phase. Perhaps it’s because I started with so much extra weight that it’s different for me. Anyway, I don’t know if it’s the weights, or being hunched over in the crawl space doing the transplanting, or the start of TOM, but boy does my lower back hurt today. I think a little time with the heating pad might not be a bad thing.

I almost forgot - Happy Easter!!!

My mother tried to give me a few easter eggs this morning, but wasn’t upset when I gave them back. She said that she thought I might but bought them last week when buying something for a friend. I explained that I’d decided earlier in the week that I just didn’t want to have any this year. Maybe next year I’ll be in a better place, but not today. See, I knew that I would open the package just intending to take one of the three eggs, but would end up eating all three. And at 340 calories, it just wasn’t something I wanted to do. I even considered taking one and giving her the other two, but decided I’d rather have my almonds in a little bit than one single (tiny) chocolate egg.

Exercise: 60 mins treadmill

Water: 20 cups

Food: 2194 calories (28% fat, 37% carbs, 30% protein)

Breakfast: 12-grain bread, peanut butter, 3 clementines (289)

AM Snack: protein shake (135)

Lunch: mixed bean soup with parmesan, smoked ham, apple (448)

PM Snack: protein shake, soy nuts (269)

Dinner: chicken & sausage gumbo, rice, mixed vegetables, salad w/dressing (730)

Late Snack: protein shake, fruit salad, biscotti (323)

I was out last week at GNC and picked up a new protein powder. I was getting a little tired of the chocolate/mango blend I’ve been drinking. I ended up buying Whey Gourmet’s Fuzzy Navel, which wasn’t too bad, although a touch sweet for my tastes. I suspect I’ll still just mix it in with the chocolate, but maybe later I’ll see if we have any vitamin C crystals to cut the sweetness. I see they offer a lot of varieties, but the store I was in didn’t seem to have too many. I’ll have to try another store next time, or another supplier in the area. The texture was good though - mixing well.

I did a fair amount of transplanting in the crawl space, which left me feeling cold.  So I’ve built a fire and am going back to sit in front of it again.

Exercise: 90 mins treadmill, 30 mins treadmill

Water: 22 cups

Food: 2603 calories (32% fat, 35% carbs, 30% protein)

Breakfast: egg substitute/egg omelet with cheese, 12-grain bread, 3 clementines (475)

AM Snack: almonds (164)

Lunch: lentil soup, smoked ham, apple (467)

PM Snack: protein shake, fruit salad, soy nuts (465)

Dinner: spicy meat loaf with roasted potatoes/onions, broccoli, butter, salad w/dressing (672)

Late Snack: protein shake, cheese spread with rice crackers (360)

I don’t think I have much to add tonight.  I don’t know how I ended up with the extra 2 cups of water, just seemed to happen.  It’s just past 10:30 and I’m pretty tired so I think it’s off to bed. I haven’t decided what the plan is for exercise tomorrow yet. Probably 60 mins on the treadmill, with another 30 in the afternoon if I feel like it. I may not though as I have a lot of seedlings (more than expected) to transplant. I’ll do it over two days probably, but there’s still a lot to do.

The morning was 2 x 30-min sessions on the treadmill. In the afternoon I did a 15-min warm-up on the treadmill, followed by:

Where there is a single number that confirms that I did the number of reps called for. Where there are two numbers the first is the amount of weight I used, followed by reps.

And I followed with another 15 mins on the treadmill.

I think my form is getting better on the lunges. I’m managing to get lower down to the floor each time I do them, so that’s a good thing. I also think I might put more of the air back in the ball. I seem to think my balance is better, so we’ll see next week. I still plan to clear the room of anything I could whack my head on when doing the crunches!

Exercise: 90 mins treadmill

Water: 20 cups

Food: 2210 calories (28% fat, 38% carbs, 32% protein)

Breakfast: protein shake, 12-grain bread, jam, 3 clementines (335)

AM Snack: soy nuts (134)

Lunch: beef barley mushroom soup, smoked turkey, apple (462)

PM Snack: protein shake, fruit salad (166)

Dinner: 2 hamburgers with condiments, 1 roll, salad w/dressing (787)

Late Snack: protein shake, apple, soy nuts (327)

I did the Costco run this morning, which seemed to be busier than usual. Of course, they’re closed tomorrow and Sunday, so this means everyone shops like they are closed for a week. No matter, as I stocked up on the usual (greens, salad stuff, oranges) and added some eggs and egg whites to the cart.

The snow is slowly receding and combining that with the 14-day forecast I’m thinking that perhaps mid-April for the pool might be possible. We changed pool people last year so we have decided not to freak the guy out by booking it now. We’ll wait until the ice and snow have melted off the top and hope that he doesn’t want a long lead time. I don’t think he’ll be that surprised since we closed it in November last year.

Exercise: 90 mins treadmill, 30 mins strength training

Water: 20 cups

Food: 2603 calories (27% fat, 41% carbs, 30% protein)

Breakfast: egg white omelet with cheese, 12-grain toast, jam, 3 clementines (462)

AM Snack: soy nuts (134)

Lunch: lentil soup, smoked turkey, apple (493)

PM Snack: protein shake, soy nuts, fruit salad (382)

Dinner: baked pasta with meat sauce and cheese, broccoli, butter, salad w/dressing (737)

Late Snack: protein shake, apple, cheese spread with rice crackers (396)

Well, I’m feeling a little sore this evening, so I suppose I’m going to feel it more in the morning.  No matter really, because I’m really enjoying it.  I’m doing the Costco run in the morning, so it’s off to bed I go soon.

kiki - it can be very easy to talk yourself into things, especially since daily exercise hasn’t been part of my routine for a long time (and before that, never).  I find the best thing some days is to set the treadmill time and tell myself that it’s okay if I get off earlier.  Almost always I finish up the time I’ve set.  Getting started is sometimes the hardest part.