Well then. I've been tagged. I'm not big on memes but since it's Jay, I'll happily play along.

3 names I go by:
- Renee
- Nay Nay
- Rah nay nay *scowls*

3 screen names I've had:
- reneegetsfit
- reneegetsfitin05
- fitnay (note the pattern)

3 physical things I like about myself:
- the shape of my eyes
- the texture of my hair
- that the fingernail on my left index finger grows really quickly

3 parts of my heritage:
- Trinidad
- Venezuela
- Montserrat

3 things I am wearing right now:
- black shirt
- black pants
- black blazer *cough*

3 favorite bands/musical artists:
- TLC
- Lauryn Hill
- Mary J Blige

3 favorite songs:
- Mr. Brightside (The Killers)
- Take Me Out (Franz Ferdinand)
- Under Pressure (Queen)

3 things I want in a relationship:
- laughter
- honesty
- trust

3 physical things about the preferred sex that appeal to me:
- forearms
- smile
- eyes

3 favorite hobbies:
- searching google for anything
- watching DVDs of the previous seasons TV shows
- going to the movies

3 Things I want to do badly right now:
- win the lottery
- stumble upon a bag full of money
- drive behind a brinks truck that happens to overturn spilling out all the money it's carrying

3 things that scare me:
- waterbugs
- the state of the world
- having children

3 of my everyday essentials:
- 50oz water bottle
- music
- looking something up online

3 Careers you have considered or are considering:
- becoming a veterinarian
- working in public relations
- becoming a tax preparer

3 places you want to go on vacation:
- Alaska
- Tuscanny
- Hawaii

3 kids' names you like:
- ?
- ?
- ? (I'm scared to have 'em, much less naming them *shiver*)

3 things you want to do before you die:
- see every country in the world
- stop being so scared to live my life
- accomplish a major physical event

3 ways I am stereotypically a boy:
- I'm super competitive
- I don't cook
- I'm messy

3 ways I am stereotypically a girl:
- I whine
- I pout
- I hold grudges

3 celeb crushes:
- Johnny Depp & George Clooney are tied for #1
- Jake Gyllenhaal
- Jared Leto & Marlon Wayans tied for 3rd

********

And now in the grand tradition of memes, it's my turn to tag 3 (must it only be 3? I'm such an indecisive Libra) *pouts*

Ok I'll tag Krista, Marta & Marci.

If weight loss is your main reason for running, follow these rules for results by Amby Burfoot.

While some people run to lose just a few pounds, others have much bigger targets. They want to lose 20, 30, or more pounds. And, naturally, they want the pounds to melt off quickly and easily.

Imagine their surprise--and disgust--when they sometimes gain a pound or two in the first weeks of their training and when their subsequent weight loss is steady but not spectacular.

Running is perhaps the most effective way to lose weight, but that doesn't make it either fast or magical. In fact, you may gain a few pounds early on as your body converts fat tissue to muscle tissue, which is denser and heavier than fat. But if you stick with the program, you'll literally run off the excess pounds.

Here are some of the strategies that have proven most successful for runners interested in maximum weight loss.

Run 25 to 30 miles a week. According to statistics from the National Weight Control Registry, which studies people who have lost at least 30 pounds and kept the weight off, individuals who succeed in their weight-loss efforts burn about 2,800 calories a week through planned exercise. Note that you don't have to run fast or win races, you simply have to be disciplined enough to put in 25 to 30 miles a week of relaxed running.

Run long and slow. Slow workouts that last 90 minutes or more put you into the fat-burning zone, where your body begins to use stored fats, rather than carbohydrates, as a source of fuel. You can't and shouldn't do these longer workouts every day. With good planning, you may be able to fit in two a week. And, yes, it may take you months to work up to a run this long. (For more information, see "Running and Walking" on page 22). Don't be afraid to mix running and walking to reach your goal.

Several times a week, at the end of an easy run, do five or six strides on the grass or on a smooth road surface. Strides are 60- to 80-meter bursts of running at a fast but controlled speed. You don't have to sprint like an Olympian; simply pick up the pace and run smooth and fast for about 10 seconds. Then decelerate, jog for a minute or two until you feel recovered, and do another stride. These bursts of faster running at the end of a workout will boost your afterburn, increasing the number of calories that your body burns after you have finished running.

Eat often and eat everything in moderation. Restrictive diets simply don't work. Everyone falls off the wagon at some point. Better to start the day with a good breakfast, eat many small carbohydrate-packed meals during the day, and even occasionally include small portions of those forbidden, fatty foods. Satisfy your cravings, then get on with your healthy nutrition and exercise program.

5 Principles of Maximum Weight Loss

1. Running burns more calories than any other simple exercise and has produced more weight-loss success stories than any other activity. But the pounds don't just magically disappear. You must be disciplined and consistent in your training program and take a long-term approach.


2. To lose more weight, run more. You don't have to run fast. You just have to spend the time moving on your feet. The best results seem to come from 25 to 30 miles of running a week.


3. If possible, run 90 minutes or longer several times a week. (Yes, it may take you months to work up to this duration.) Also, do strides several times a week. Both of these strategies can give a boost to your calorie-burning efforts.


4. Drink plenty of water. You can cut up to 15 percent of your daily calorie intake by substituting water for juices, colas, and similar beverages.


5. Don't go on a restrictive very low calorie diet. This will only lower your metabolic rate. Eat breakfast and other carbo-packed meals and snacks regularly throughout the day.
[source]

[La reading this almost made me too.]

This comment was left late last week.

Wow. I was searching the net for a recipie for granola and ended up here and I am touched. Now, first I would like to say, I am a young man (20) and I am skinny (120 lbs). I do not have trouble keeping my weight down (only up...).

Having said that, I am really touched by the honesty you all have with the world and with yourselves. I have never really empathized with "fat" people before as I have never been overweight. Reading your blog has really opened my eyes to some of the issues you deal with. I have been of the mindset that any one who wants to can loose weight, and they don't because they are lazy or don't see the need, but now I see it really is difficult. I have always theroized that if I was in your position, I would just start eating right, exercising, and working out and be me again. I do that stuff now, although I gain more weight from it than I lose, which is a good thing btw...

I guess what I am trying to say is I never really put myself in your shoes and thought about why you may be overweight. I never thought that a compliment here and there or a word of encouragement to help you along would help. I also never really thought about how my brother and I poking fun at our younger cousin's eating habits might not be good for them.

All and all, thank you for opening my mind, and stay encouraged. Also, you may not belive it but prayer changes things, and God can help you in your journey to lose weight. I will pray for you.

PS. To the women with the non/semi-supportive husbands, although I have not been married, I am still a man, and men often don't know what women want, so don't be supprised if your man does not respond how you expect him to. I also would reccommend being honest with him about your feelings, and of course to do that you have to be honest with your self. Just some thoughts. Remember I have never been married and I am only 20 so I could be wrong...Matt

Thanks Matt

Those zany scientists over @ Acme Wonder Pills are at it again.

Workout Pill is guaranteed to give you the body of your dreams. You'll be sleek, toned and flab free. The only caveat is, you will have to eat a very restricted diet, no sweets or snacking allowed. Once a month you'll be allowed one single cheat meal. If you go over the preset calories in any single day, the excess weight will return immediately.

With the No Gain Pill you can continue to eat all your favorite foods w/o gaining weight. No more worrying about counting calories, points, carbs, fats. No need to workout for weight loss either. The only caveat is, you will always be overweight.

Which pill do you choose? The one that'll require you to eat a strict cheat free meal plan but have gives a great body in return. Or the pill that will allow you to eat whatever whenever, you'll remain overweight, but you won't gain any more weight.

This week's topic: What do you want more body or food?

Day 129

"Vitality shows in not only the ability to persist but the ability to start over." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

"It is what you do in 2005, that determines what you will be in 2006."

"Make the decision, then do something - no matter how small - toward accomplishing what you want."

"If you're going to be obsessive about something, why not be obsessive about your fitness level?"

"I don't want to be perfect, I just want to be a little better each day. And it's working."

"Change the mind, and the body will change itself."

"If you want what you do not have, you must do what you have not done."

Unknown Authors

Day 128

week 1 recap to do m t w th f s Challenge goals             No Snooze No eating past 6pm Daily affirmation               Eating goals             1200-1600 calories 1617* 1572 1619* 1559 1536 100 oz water minimum 25 gms of fiber 29 26 25 26 30               Week 1 goals             do 1 full pushup         do abs & back 2 days   #1   #2     do 1 stretching session

Notes:
The 2 days I hit snooze, I ended up getting up and working out anyway. The days I didn't hit snooze, I didn't exactly bound out of bed, just laid there for about 5 mins trying to focus.

The 3 days I ate past 6, I ended up snacking on something sweet around 7.

Didn't do daily affirmation yesterday since I made my miles & minutes goal and took Saturday off. I really took it off b/c I woke up @ 3 am and could not go back to sleep so when the alarm really went off I was exhausted.

The two days of 1600+ calories are not accurate. I was too lazy to log the nutritional value of my squash in Fitday and used their default amount which is higher than my brand. I'm fairly certain I went over calorie goal on Saturday. I was out and ate out for most of the day and also explains why I ate past 6. Pretty sure I didn't make the fiber gms goal either.

I'm working on doing full body pushups so each upper body day I try to do 1 w/perfect form. I had two upper body sessions and did 2 full body pushups. After the 1st attempy my armpits were mighty sore. I don't exactly do one up/down in one shot. Who knew my entire body would feel so heavy, when I picture doing it in my head it seems easy. When I plant myself on the floor, it's all I can do not to flop flat on my face.

By the skin of my teeth I met the last workout goal, 15 mins stretch. Resisted doing it w/all my might but I needed 12 more minutes to reach my weekly goal. I felt so blissed out when I was done, you'd think I'd leap @ a chance to do this every day. Um. NOT!

Week 2 Goals
After yesterday I'm now leaning to giving myself 1 day a week to relax on eating to compensate for the day I end up being outdoors. I'll still try my best to eat w/my overall goal in mind, but rather than say every single day I'll aim for 25gms of fiber, I'll just leave it @ 6 out of 7 days. I've also made one weekend days water goal to be 50oz, likely the same day I'm running the streets and access to restrooms are scant.

This week minutes, miles & water increase. Here's what I'm aiming for:

436 minutes broken down by:
60 mins cardio - 5 days
20 mins weights - 5 days
7 mins back & abs - 3 days
15 mins stretch - 1 day

18 miles:
3 miles - 5 days

650 oz water:
100 oz - 6 days @ least 50 oz one weekend day

I got 9 's last week, let's see if I can get 8 or less this week.

"You get whatever you settle for."

"I wake up every day with the realization that this is it, that there's only one shot at this life and I can either enjoy the ride and live it to its fullest and to my highest potential or I can stay the way I am."

"Your past does not equal, nor does it dictate, your future."

"One definition of insanity is: Doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result."

"The quality of your fuel determines the quality of your body."

"We fail because we don't strike the iron while it's hot. We don't take immediate action toward achieving what we want. We decide to wait until tomorrow, or next week, or even next month."

Unknown Authors

Day 127

Day 126

One of the reasons I posted such issues driven "What say you?" topics last week, was due to watching Oprah's show about weight. I get some thanks for posting the topics and I'm grateful for it, but I wanted to take a moment to thank those of you who chime in. Your unflinching honesty deeply moves me.

I guess I'm hoping that people who don't have weight issues and happen across my site, read the words from those us who are trying to lose weight, whatever our reason may be, and realize the person they see ordering Mickie Dees or eating ice cream doesn't solely exist in that moment they encounter them. And rather than judge by wondering "Why are THEY eating that?" try to be compassionate instead.

Your comments helps to put a face on the faceless and for that I thank you. I'll have a more lighthearted topic up sometime next week.

********

Availabilty
Summer squash is available all year long in some regions, and is at its peak from early through late summer.

How to Select & Store:
Summer squash can be found in the produce section of health food stores and supermarkets. Look for smaller, firm squash with bright, tender, blemish-free skin. Store squash refrigerated in a plastic bag for up to four days.

This morning as I struggled, w/a capital S, on getting up, in one second I was all prepared, just for today, to chuck the challenge. *fingersnap* Just like that. But as I laid there number crunching the logical part of my brain piped in. "Renee my dear, THIS is what a challenge is, operative word being challenge."

Logical had a point. It is easy peasy on day 1 to bound out of bed raring to go. Hell @ that point, I'm motivated and operating on pure adrenaline. But as the day 1 turns to 2 and 2 to 3 and 3 till the final damned day, my adrenal tank gets low and I'm running on fumes.

I s'pose that's why the word challenge is a single word and not a phrase like "Do this till you don't feel like it anymore." If it were a phrase it'd be something like, "Look here girlie, you've committed to this and when it gets tough you gotta work it in" whatever that IT is.

And I hate to confess this to Logical Renee b/c Emotional Renee is whiny trollop, but despite now barely being able to remember how I got to the gym ½ asleep, when I was done...I felt GREAT!

Still being ½ asleep I threw off my HIIT intervals by 1 minute. I don't know which interval I lost that minute. When it came time to do the peak of 4.0/10%, I should have been @ minute 18. I was @ minute 19 which is the cool down minute. After that, I had a GREAT 1.5 mile run, my mouth was closed for the entire thing I didn't feel winded @ all (during the 2 and 2.5 milers I start slightly open mouth panting by the last ½ mile) and I ended my stint w/a 20 min preprogrammed walk, which on days I feel so sleepy, ie everyday, I start w/the preprogrammed walk first. My brain doesn't want to command my hands to do anything more than just hang there.

Crisis averted...the day goes on...rage still boiling...glutemous bootymous...later today...you're next.

Thanks to Ninjette for mentioning the final puzzle piece to those two ♥ rate specific posts from yesterday. [red text is my emphasis].

Generally speaking, the higher your resting heart rate, the less physically fit you are. The lower your heart rate, the more fit you are. If your resting heart rate is 80 beats per minute today, it should definitely be lower after 8 to 12 weeks of regular exercise, a clear indication of progress. Some long-distance runners have resting heart rates in the 40's but the average resting heart rate is about 70 beats per minute (bpm) for a man and 75 bpm for a woman.

The rate at which our heart beats is a good indication of our level of fitness. It is also a good way to measure intensity during running, swimming, cycling, and other aerobic activities. Exercise that doesn't raise your heart rate to a certain level and keep it there for 20 minutes won't contribute very much to cardiovascular fitness. [source]

That 8-12 week till results tidbit is very true. When I started back in January my resting ♥ rate was 82. Ten weeks later it was 76. Ya darn tootin girlie, we should both pat ourselves on the back.

Almost didn't get up this am. Went so far as to reset the alarm for 2 hours later. But as I laid there trying to figure out how to work in 60 mins of cardio this afternoon and mentally trying to add up how to divide the miles/minutes to go w/this challenge over the next 2 days, my freaking brain became wide awake and I couldn't fall back to sleep.

That and my bladder was about to bust. Damn you 100 ozs of water ::shakes fist::

"Envy can be a positive motivator. Let it inspire you to work harder for what you want." - Robert Bringle

Day 125

My bad, guess I should've included this info earlier.

In order to figure out which zone you're in, you first need to figure out what your own target heart rate is. You can do this by using the Karvonen Formula. You can also use any number of target heart rate calculators to get your heart rate zone, but many of them do not incorporate your resting heart rate (which makes it a bit more accurate).

Below is an example of the Karvonen formula for a 23 year old person with a resting heart rate of 65 beats per minute (*to get your resting heart rate, take your pulse for one full minute.):

220 - 23 (age) = 197
197 - 65 (resting heart rate) = 132
132 * 65% (low end of heart rate) OR 85% (high end) = 85.8 OR 112.2
85.8 + 65 (resting heart rate) = 150 112.2 + 65 (rhr) = 177
The target heart rate zone for this person would be 150 to 177

For this person to work in his 'fat burning' zone, he would need to stay around 150 beats per minute or lower. To work within his 'cardio' zone, he would need to work at 150 bpm or higher. [source]

For the math challenged, such as myself, here are 3 online target heart rate calculators for all: one from about.com, another from liquafit.com & picking up the rear is polarusa.com, which is also the ♥ rate monitor brand that I use (model A1).

This delectable evil treat w/it's 250 calories/14 gms o' fat now comes in MINI sized! How do I know that?

Ok ok, I went down the candy aisle @ Targay two weeks ago looking specifically for it :: These things are like crack. CRACK! Fortunately, 3 minis consitute 1 serving and gives 170 calories/10 gms o' fat. I've alloted myself 1 mini per day, logged as .33 serving in Fitday. Lately I've noticed I've wanted something sweet after lunch so I've upped it to .66 (or 2) a day.

It's 112 calories well spent.

To get the most out of exercise, you should monitor your intensity throughout your workout. This will insure that you are working within your heart rate training zone, thus getting an effective workout without killing yourself. Working too hard could lead to injury and burnout while not working hard enough can lead to frustration when you don't see results.

"Everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was." - Richard L Evans

Day 124

So let me tell ya about a cycle where I found myself stuck on stupid:

A new remote has shown up in the gym! Which means I momentarily tuned in to VH1/MTV before settling back on Full House for the duration of my workout. For some reason now that I've seen all the shows before, the time goes by much quicker.

Speaking of time...every single afternoon/late evening I fight the drowsies like mad. Around 7-7:30 I feel like sticking two toothpicks, cartoon style, under my eyelids. I try to hold off and distract myself by piddling around online. But it's getting harder and harder, especially b/c the sun sets facing my apt and it gets all warm and toasty. By the time I really need to hit the hay, I'm all bright eyed and bushy tailed. Pfffft!

I'll be damned if I go to bed @ 7, that means I'm gonna have to stop eating @ freakin 4pm. Ain't gonna happen. And knowing my body, it means I'll be wide awake by 2 am. Geez.

I almost succumbed to the, "I'll just close my eyes thru this commercial" trick, but remembering last week when I for a ½ hour, I resisted.

"Whatever you are, be a good one." - Abraham Lincoln

Day 123

Dropping a pound a week is safe, sensible, effective...and really slow. Lucky for you, there are ways to speed up the process.

I repeat: "To lose 10 pounds in...1 month...Have rough sex for 10 hours a day." Oh my.

[source]

I once worked w/a girl who was trying to lose weight. @ that time, I couldn't care less about anything weight related so I never paid her much attention. Instead I gave her curious looks as she whipped out this little booklet and was always counting something. I'd overhear her saying she couldn't have so and so b/c it had such and such points? calories? something or the other who knows?

A few months later she had trimmed down considerably and I was floored. Not long after, we parted ways and a year or so later I ran into her again. Now she was rail thin, so thin in fact, her head looked a tad oversized. When she first started her diet I'd hear her talking about the gym but I have no idea what she was doing or how often she went. It was the food thing, her meticulous counting & restricting, that had me mesmerized.

"The only way to find the limits of the possible is by going beyond them to the impossible." - Arthur C. Clarke

Day 122

Oh and kudos to Nneka & Nicole both starting their own challenges/contracts where weight and the scale are on the backburner. wÒÓ†!

Operation Crease Begone gets it's name from my desire to be well...crease free. The duration is for 6 weeks, starting today, ending on 7/2. I like 6 weeks. 90 days & 12 weeks feel too laborious and never ending to me. 3 weeks is a tad too short. Plus w/6 weeks I can easily divide it in ½ and up the intensity by week 4.

This challenge incorporates all my current workout plans while rounding it out w/food and health goals. It ties everything together in a neat little package by giving me goals to shoot for so I can take my mind off the freakin' scale which by the way was up ½ lb on Friday (then back down again on Saturday). ::grits teeth::

"Pain nourishes courage. You can't be brave if you've only had wonderful things happen to you." - Mary Tyler Moore

Day 121

Marci's comment about her little girl and what the other kids said about weight made me think back to my own childhood. I was a skinny kid, bony actually. When I hit puberty, the weight gain started. I swear I went from wearing children sizes to wearing adult sized 12/14's overnight. B/c I hadn't yet grown taller, it took a few more years for my height to catch up and me to even out.

My earliest memory of the concept of weight, as well as personally feeling fat for the 1st time in my life, was when I was 12 years. My aunt came over to visit and we were chatting in the living room. I remember her looking @ me saying that my cheeks looked like two rosy apples they were so chubby. To this day, whenever I need to gauge if I am in fact gaining weight, I judge it by whether or not I can see my cheeks in the lower parts of my eyes.

So this weeks topic: Around what age were you made aware of what weight meant? Was it comments made about you from a family member or school friends? Was it comments directed @ someone else you happened to overhear or be a part of? Did it start when you were a teen? In grade school? In pre k?

I've got to say I'm extremely touched by the comments and emails I've received from the posts earlier in the week but especially the one from Friday. It's really gratifying to know that for most of us, though we may say "I want to lose xxlbs", we seem to realize there are a ton of deep rooted issues we are also dealing with. It would be nice of the media and manufacturers of products would deal with those issues also vs. the superficial "Lose 10lbs in 1 week" claims, but that's another rant for another day.

I spent the last two days just thinking about what I've been avoiding. I'm glad I expressed what I did. As I continue to make breakthrus and insights I'll record them here, but as I dig thru the nitty gritty most of it will have to be dealt w/outside the scope of this blog like on a paper journal.

"There are victories of the soul and spirit. Sometimes, even if you lose, you win." - Elie Wiesel

Day 120

[Side note: This entry is an extremely personal reflecton & touches on eating disorders. In spite of it's personal nature, I'm reluctantly leaving comments open. I'm asking in advance, please don't invalidate any of my feelings and tell me to feel otherwise than I have already expressed. I try not to do that when someone says they feel a certain way. Keep in mind, as I've said before, the words that I feel are all part of my weight loss experience.]

Ok I know I said I'd tackle this next week but Eve, Marta and Mel's comments to 1000 words all brought tears to my eyes & made me want to get some stuff outta my head.

Last nite while piddling around online I found a paraphrase that in People Mag, Lindsay Lohan says she lost like 20lbs and has been using a personal trainer.

Later, as I watched The Apprentice, there was a promo for her SNL gig. She made a "joke" that she hadn't eaten in 6 months. *sigh*

So my 1st thoughts were trainer schmainer. The way the quote read, it wasn't a direct, "I have a trainer and we do xyz", it was offhanded like "Yea I lost 20lbs and it's no big deal, I mean I got one of those trainer things". Most celebs who are busting it out for a role, rave or complain about their trainer or rigorous workout plan. Halle did it for Catwoman, Hillary for Million Dollar Baby, Jen Garner, for Alias.

And granted she's young, I know I know, but still. That body hasn't seen a trainer. I know Jessica has, and though I think she looks a bit gaunt, she doesn't look rail thin like a walking skeleton.

Then the "joke". If she were working out w/a trainer who slimmed her down, I get that the joke is s'posed to be tongue in cheek poking fun @ the rumors, but it comes across, especially w/that red dress, as a truth in jest sorta joke.

Which again, going back to celebs who've done the trainer thing and don't come out on the otherside looking like bones, they somehow don't get teased or have rumors started about not eating, but she does.

So it brings me to this mornings quote. I just wanted to remind myself to try not to judge this girl, I don't know her. Well not just that, even people I know I try not to judge. My irritation is about the messages that are being put out, but I'll get into that next week.

"Great Spirit, help me never to judge another until I have walked in his moccasins." - Sioux Indian prayer

Day 119

I have a lot swirling in my head about these ladies, but before I rant on & b/c I'm pretty beat today, I'll put this out there to hear what others think.

Before


After

Looking at these pictures, what goes thru your mind?

People not swayed from poor eating habits despite facing chronic diseases, survey says.

[snip]

Although the majority of people she surveyed say they want to lose weight, and many actually go on a diet for a short time, dieting isn't a priority.

[snip]

The best source for weight loss inspiration comes from a social network. If a friend is on a diet and successfully dropping pounds, you're more apt to try it. However, if everyone around you is overweight, you're less likely to feel a need to change...[source]

Nap that is.

Feeling blah & tired this AM. Every evening around 6-7:30 I fight the urge to sleep really hard. I get sooooooooo drowsy. But by 9, I'm not that tired anymore. I still fall asleep, but if I stay up too long past 9, I get my 2nd wind and won't fall for hours.

Yesterday, drowsiness hit me so hard around 5:30, I just decided to close my eyes for a second. Just thru the opening credits and first batch of commercials of Friends. I had every intention to open my eyes and watch the show.

Next thing I know, Seinfeld is starting. What the!?!?! I slept for a ½hour, but not exactly slept since I was ½ listening to the radio. I heard it the entire time, but I seriously dozed off.

Come 9, I wasn't that sleepy, I tossed and turned for @ least an hour. Usually when I fight to sleep that hard, I just stay up and do something online but I had that 2.5 mile run today, I needed to be alert.

Well I wasn't.

I shuffled my way thru for a ½mile before I just said bump it and started a 30 min preprogrammed walking routine. 10 minutes into that I said double bump it and got on the bike to ride out my last 20 mins.

Just dragging. No energy. I even took the elevator @ this morning.

Meh.

So now I'm extremely drowsy and all I can think about is curling back up into bed. Which will make that 6-7:30 fight that much harder. I may have to splash my face or slap myself silly to make it.

"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant." - Robert Louis Stevenson

Day 118

Workouts have been going well this week, surprisingly smooth. It almost feels like until I switched up to the new training plan, I was trying to cram a square peg into a round hole. The last two weeks I've felt all all zen like, gliding my round hole into it's proper home. This whole lifestyle change feels like a house of cards. I swear I put one card in the wrong place and I wobble from the repercussions for days, and it takes me a while to find my footing again.

"Embrace your uniqueness. Time is much too short to be living someone else's life." - Kobi Yamada

Day 117

So Kirstie Alley didn't disappoint me yesterday. Granted I missed most of the words she said b/c w/o cable I have rabbit ears and the reception ain't too good on ABC. I didn't hear if she was asked, or answered, how much she weighs or what size she is, I did hear her goal was to lose 70lbs and she was ½ way there.

I loved that she said she was athletic and such and she now has a kick ass gym @ home with no trainer. That part surprised me, I'd think in Hollywood peeps would be knocking down her door to get the publicity. Overall I guess it was an okay show.

I don't want to give the impression that I'm Kirstie bashing, far from it. Nor do I think the commenters were bashing her either, some snark for sure, gotta love the snark, but I think I get what we are all so sensitive about. It's like Nicole said, "just be honest! we'll love you even more!"

I don't like disingenuous people. When it comes to losing weight it drives me bonkers when a celeb (I'm lQQking @ you Demi Moore) says "Oh I just move furniture and that's how I keep my girlish figure..tee hee."

Tee hee my ass.

"The first step towards the solution of any problem is optimism." - John Baines

Day 116

Speaking of clothing, when I was slimmer, sizes 4-8, I dressed very trendy. Mostly b/c I worked in retail and had a great discount, but mainly b/c I lived @ home and had a huge disposable income. When I moved out, I was still fairly slim, more an 8, creeping towards a 10 but my cute clothes still fit. By then I discovered Targay so I was able to afford a cheaper cute outfit or two.

Along the way when I became downright fat for my size, all my personal taste went out the window. A combination of "I don't want to admit I'm really that size and if I buy the flare jeans it'll be a confession so I'll stick w/the generic elastic waist large sweat suit type pants" caused me to lose my fashion sense.

Once in a while I'd see a girl my size, or bigger, wearing a very trendy outfit, belly exposed, arms showing tight pants with her stomach overlapping, with a "I don't give a fuck" attitude. I wouldn't gawk b/c that's rude, but I was mesmerized. I admired her braveness and attitude, but I couldn't do it. Mostly b/c I know what I looked like before and what I want to get back to looking like.

On the flip side I'd see another girl, again my size or larger wearing a very fashionable outfit, appropriate for her size, ie she wasn't spilling out of it, and looking great. I admired her too, but again I couldn't do it.

It's weird, but for me, I just felt if I started to shop my size, I'd stay this size for all times. But if I treated it like "I'm just passing thru nothing to see here" by wearing overalls, large t-shirts and baggy pants then @ some point I'd get to be the old me again.

So this weeks topic: if you, according to your own personal standards are overweight, how does that impact your sense of style? Keep in mind this is according to your standard of overweight. I don't want anyone to feel I think they're fat b/c they are xxlbs. Overweight to some may be 10lbs to others it's 50 or 100. You don't have to say what you weigh or what size you buy, but if weight is something you are dealing with, I'm curious to hear how it impacts you when shopping.

If you've gained weight and are now a few sizes bigger than you'd like to be, do you shop differently? If you've always been overweight, did that stop you from wearing clothes geared for the Britney Spears bodies of the world?

Do you dress down b/c of weight or are you a trendy fashionista size be damned?

So I went clothes shopping this weekend, never mind the fact that I have no money, I really needed some new workout gear and a pair of pants. My were spilling outta my sports bra when I ran, my men's style athletic shorts were causing me to chafe and my size 12 old navy pants now have puckers of room in the leg area, I needed another pair of Belly Slicers.

First I hit Targay, they had sports bras on sale. I got one short one and a mid waist one, for 4 and 6 bucks. I also got 2 pairs of mid thigh biking shorts to run in. Geez, I'm gonna look like such a hoochie going to workout in skin tight clothes

...that entry about Kirstie Alley would spark so much...uh...discussion.

Well then. I'm pretty sure all us weight loss blogger chicks will be tuned into to Oprah today to hear the details of how Ms. Alley went from a size 14/16* to 6/8* (*results not typical) Of course.

Ya know if that's her size after losing 33lbs, which is pretty reasonable I s'pose, good for her. I'd just rather her be str8 and not pull that Demi Moore bullshit, "I just eat cheeseburger and fries", when Demi damn well knew it was a healthy raw food version.

If Kirstie says look, it's a specially made size 6/8's not walk into the Gap/Old Navy skinny minnie size 6/8's, she'll be okay in my book.

Still...looking @ those pictures...I dunno...I have read J. Lo is a size 6/8. I'll be listening today. Hard.

"If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always gotten." - Anonymous

Day 115

I've gotten a few emails about problems with the send button appearing. I just clicked on one of the entries on the front page and the entire layout looks wonky. I have no earthly idea what is going on b/c I am currenlty fixing the archives and those pages look fine...*sigh*...I tell ya if it's not ONE thing...it's another.

B/c jumping around working on multiple things @ once always fuggs me up, I'm gonna finish up what I'm already working on. In the meantime I've relinked (& tested) the contact page. If all else fails, you can use that in a pinch.

"Hope arouses, as nothing else can arouse, a passion for the possible." - William Sloane Coffin, Jr.

Day 114

"There is a transcendent power in example. We reform others unconsciously when we walk uprightly." - Anne Sophie Swetchine

Day 113

Cell Phone-MP3 Combo Will Silence iPods, Gates Predicts

In predicting this week that Apple Computer's iPod is just a flash in the pan and may soon be buried by cell phones with MP3 capability, Microsoft's Bill Gates may have inadvertently prophesied the coming of the iPod buried in a cell phone. [source]

Noooooooooooooo!

Damn you Bill Gates! You keep your trap shut till I get my iPod! (I got my 5th sign up this week and just sent my acct in for approval. They gotta research my acct and make sure I nor the signups scammed the system. I'll know if it's shipping sometime next week. In the meantime, I took down all the begging banners.) [6/17/05 update: I got the iPod]

On an unrelated note, no featured foods this week. I've spent that time fixing the archvies, which as of today are completely linked. Have a great weekend! I promise not to break the site again this weekend

Found this tidbit via Eve. Apparently Kirstie Alley went from a being size 14/16 in Jan to a size 6/8 this month. In the same time frame I went from a tight 16 to a barely fitting 12. After I let loose a plethora of #$#)(*#'s on Eve's site (forgive me girlie ) I went back to Kirsties' "blog" to check on something.

Here's what I found:

...body fat down 17%*...26¼ inches*...from 14-16 to 6-8*.

And wayyyyy at the bottom this:

*Results not typical.

Well my friends, I guess that makes me typical.

Every Friday morning I update my little NutriSystem profile. This is chart of how I've been faring for the last 16 weeks:

This morning I realized there are more red minuses than black plusses. I also realized more weeks than not, I had consistency.

In the last few weeks I've come to terms with this. Perhaps last weeks time off helped cement that I'm really okay with losing weight slow. I don't even care about it like I did earlier. I had no desire to beat the scale into submission this morning.

I haven't been averaging 1lb like most or 2lbs like the lucky. So a few weeks ago, when I finally accepted that I lose a ½lb, my mindset changed. Instead of trying for and being frustrated by not being able to lose 5lbs in 5 weeks, I've scaled back all my goals & expectations to aim for 3lbs in 6 weeks.

Today I'm down ½lb and that's just the way it goes.

Oh this weight will come off. I know it will. Put it like this, I'm going to make my body and lifestyle a really uncomfortable place for excess body fat to reside.

Oh and one more funny from Kirstie's "blog", the entry title says Half Way There, so does that make her goal a size 3/4? Oh, right. I forget. Hollywood.

Congratulations, reneegetsfit! You finished the 2005 SELF Challenge! You've been entered to win the finisher's prize—a trip for two to Los Angeles to work out with celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson. Plus, as one of our first 2,000 finishers, we'll print your name in an upcoming issue of SELF!

Total workout minutes
5,547 (or 92 hours or 7 hours a week or 1 hour a day)
wÒÓ†!

Total calories burned
43,859 (or 12.5lbs)

no comment

"Success is going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

Day 112

For the last month I've been munching on Total Protein for breakfast. It's actually pretty good. Bear in mind, I'm didn't grow up like the avg kid. My mother never bought sugary cereals for me. I remember Corn Flakes & Raisin Bran. Naturally I'd dump ½ a cup of sugar in it, but those fun fruity rebellious cereals? Never had 'em. I'd go to my cousins house and my eyes would grow like saucers checking out his cereal collection. Not only didn't he need the ½ cup of sugar, his cereal turned the milk into diff't colors. No matter how much I asked, Mom refused. By the time I got to high school and bought my own groceries, I chose Chocolate Rice Krispies, Frosted Flakes and Honey Nut Cheerios. I sampled the other silly ones like Lucky Charms and Fruity Pebbles, but they didn't do much for me.

I say all that to say, my taste buds are prolly more immune to eating boring "healthy" cereal than most. Total Protein has a bit of a cardboardy look an feel. The bland flakes are not attractive. But I blend it w/a serving of Fiber One and add a few raisins and low fat milk and it's quite ok. Really.

Nutritional Information
Serving Size: ¾ cup (30g)
Calories: 110
Total Fat: 3.5gms
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 270mgs
Carbohydrates: 11gms
Fiber: 3gms
Sugars: 2gms
Protein: 13gms

"Never confuse a single defeat with a final defeat." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Day 111

Slowly but surely I've been working out the final kinks of the site.

Two weight loss wonder pills have been created w/absolutely no side effects. The only caveat is you can't take them both. Given the choice, which pill would you take:

The Motivation Pill
Guarantees to keep you pumped up & raring to go for all workouts.

The Willpower Pill
Guarantees to give you the strength to resist foods you don't need.

On the surface both pills seemingly do the same thing, but the real question is, what do you suffer from more when it comes to losing weight? A lack of motivation or a lack of willpower?

I suspect someone stole the remote from the gym. Two Saturdays ago when I did the tortuous 60 min power walk, I guess I was blasting the TV. W/the treadmill making so much noise and the a/c going I didn't notice. A girl came in and told me her apt was right above and asked if I could lower the volume. I was huffing and puffing so hard, drenched in sweat I didn't understand what she was trying to say. She practically had to get up on the treadmill w/me for me to make the connection to her arm pointing @ the TV and then up @ the ceiling. So I lowered the volume and she left.

The following Tuesday when I hit the gym the remote was gone. I saw the wastebasket overturned in front the TV and a metal stick next to it. The low budget manual remote. I have my own manual remote: a broomstick handle. I ran back upstairs and got that.

Now I may be totally wrong, but I think either she or someone in her apt took the remote. Even though I turned down the volume, I'm sure for the weeks before she came to the gym I had the TV on pretty loud. And it's not just me, when I go in and turn it on, usually it's on ESPN and already turned up, so perhaps all day long they've been aggravated by the noise.

So now when I put it on Full House, I'm stuck. Speaking of which, I was totally on point with my prediction from yesterday. 11 mins into the first episode Michelle says, "You got it dude." But yea, the remotes gone which means no MTV/VHI. No fake iPod for me to jam too until I get the real one (only 1 more sign up needed!.Now I'm going for the laptop!) [6/17 update: I got the iPod] [1/31/06 upddate: I got the shuffle!] I really needed the music today too, I got so desperate when I ran, I pretended the commercial jingles were songs

For Elle Jay & anyone else who wondered what the hell I was talking about when I uttered the phrase HIIT yesterday.

HIIT training, which stands for High Intensity Interval Training, is one of the best methods for fat loss and muscle retention. HIIT training is not new, but is a form a interval training which has been used for many years. HIIT training is the best way to burn fat without burning muscle. Studies have shown that long endurance activates such as aerobics cause muscle catabolism (the breakdown of muscle tissue). HIIT training allows you to lose the fat without losing muscle. If you need proof all you need to do is look at sprinters to see that they have low body fat and lean, defined bodies.

HIIT and interval training are very similar, the only difference is the intensity in which they are done. So what is interval training? Interval training is a varying of intensities within one workout , where you add a low intensity bout with a higher intensity bout. HIIT training is a very high intensity bout with a lower intensity bout. You can perform your interval training in many ways, and you should use variety. You can perform it on a stationary bike, stairmaster, mountain bike, local track, etc. Change it up often. [source]

This site gives a pretty good overview and training plan. Having done BFL (book) before, I'm doing their version:

The cool thing about HIIT, is that you can do it w/anything. Biking, running, rope jumping. So the possibilities are endless. I'm doing walking now, but when level 10 no longer makes me wanna hurl, I'll up the intensity all around. The muscle media version intrigues me but I don't quite get it, I'll read up on it more and give it a shot over the summer.

Waking up 45 mins BEFORE the alarm went off was my body's oh so subtle way of telling me it was very ready to sweat this am.

"It is by attempting to reach the top at a single leap that so much misery is caused in the world." - William Cobbett

Day 110