I've been trying to do a combo of Zumba and eating better (although eating is still nowhere near it should be with all of the holiday chocolate, cakes and goodies!) but I've been doing Zumba for 2 weeks now (5 times total), drinking more water, less soda and trying to be more food aware and today I have officially dropped a little over 4 pounds from my starting weight! Only about 136 more to go woohoo! (little sarcasm never hurt anybody!)
I love the Zumba and am even thinking of going to the next level already after only a couple of weeks. I can't wait to try the strength training!
So if I can drop 4 pounds (2 kilos) in 2 weeks during the holidays I cannot wait to see what I can do once January rolls around.
Woohoo for me! Hope you're having fantastic healthy successful weeks and happy holiday season to all!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
one sick baby = one pooped out Mama
Sorry to ignore my blog this past week but little Sadie has been really ill and I haven’t had a chance to breathe let alone blog (or exercise). I had done the Zumba twice last week and really like it a lot and think it will be something that I can stick with once I get back on track. I also decided that I am going to give myself a few weeks so not this week) before I weigh myself. This is partially due to the fact that the day after I announced I was 127 (kilos) I got on the scale to see 128-point-some-number and partially because we’ve had two alcohol infested meetings at work, one Christmas dinner and a week full of on the go meals and I just don’t want to disappoint myself when I’m feeling so positive right now.
Sadie is still not 100%, she’s more about 40 today but I think she’s on the up and up which means that this week I should be able to work out 3 times, or at least that’s what I’m aiming for right now.
I hope you all are having healthy, successful weeks!
Sadie is still not 100%, she’s more about 40 today but I think she’s on the up and up which means that this week I should be able to work out 3 times, or at least that’s what I’m aiming for right now.
I hope you all are having healthy, successful weeks!
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
It's the little things...
These are some things I'm doing today to make a positive change towards my weight loss goals:
1) I cut down my usual "6-9 cup of coffee/hot chocolate" morning down to just one cup of coffee. I also had one portion of oatmeal for breakfast with low fat milk.
2) I've had the most delicious salad for lunch with greens, pumpkin, tomato, celery, smoked chicken and feta with a lemon dressing.
3) I've already told my husband that I'll be doing my Zumba workout tonight, for the second time, and I'm really looking forward to it. Saying out loud makes me feel committed and I know there is a higher chance of me following through. The fact that I'm looking forward to it makes me a wee bit giddy.
4) I've had two bottles of water already and it's just past 1p.m. I'll try to get in at least two more before (work) days end.
So there you go. Small steps.
What positive things are you doing in your life today?
1) I cut down my usual "6-9 cup of coffee/hot chocolate" morning down to just one cup of coffee. I also had one portion of oatmeal for breakfast with low fat milk.
2) I've had the most delicious salad for lunch with greens, pumpkin, tomato, celery, smoked chicken and feta with a lemon dressing.
3) I've already told my husband that I'll be doing my Zumba workout tonight, for the second time, and I'm really looking forward to it. Saying out loud makes me feel committed and I know there is a higher chance of me following through. The fact that I'm looking forward to it makes me a wee bit giddy.
4) I've had two bottles of water already and it's just past 1p.m. I'll try to get in at least two more before (work) days end.
So there you go. Small steps.
What positive things are you doing in your life today?
Sunday, December 06, 2009
I did Zumba! (video, not class)
And I'm going to write my review as I'm sitting here at my table still huffing and puffing, still sweating in my ears, still with my heart pounding out of my chest....The verdict:
I'll do it again. Multiple times a week, more than likely. In a nut shell the actual workout was fun, semi-easy to follow and short. The music was fun and the instructor gave variations of the hip swaying that those skinny women were doing so quickly.
Now, out of the nutshell and into the nitty gritty...
There are definetely some positives about the video and some negatives. A lot of what I say, should you choose to take it to heart, will also depend on how you feel about your own body, where you are in your weight loss endevors and your place in your life right now, right this minute. I'm sitting here as a 279 pound (127 kilo) (yeah, that's what the scale said this week at my weigh in, so there is my starting point) woman who has, in the past, dropped 72 pounds and has, since her pregnancy, gained most of it back. I am also a woman though, who used to work out in the gym 3 to 4 times a week and did occasional classes. This gives me the wisdom to know not to judge a workout by your first attempt and that it will get a) better b) get easier c) become more fun. Really, huff huff, it will. I am also a woman who has been dragging her feet to begin, again. I am also a woman who ate two (large) cookies for breakfast and almost let that be an excuse not to workout because "I already started the day shitty". I know we're all in different places, all over the weight loss map, so keep that in mind while reading.
So lets start with the negatives and get that out of the way so we can end on a positive note.
1) the intro to the dance steps - it was LENGTHY and intimidating. Seriously, I watched the intro first and practiced the steps and about 10 steps into it I was thinking "for Gods sake how many steps are they going to throw at me in a 20 minute bacis, beginners workout". It almost intimidated me to the point of turning it off and not even moving onto the actual video.
2) workout space - you don't need a lot of space but this would be a hell of a lot easier to do on a concrete or wooden floor. I have carpet and your feet just don't slide as easily as you would like them to.
3) some of the moves, even when broken down, are not for beginners. There was one combination that tripped me up the entire time, and I like to think that I can keep a beat and follow simple steps.
4) If you are not used to working out or are just beginning I can see how it would discourage you from trying it again. Your body is flopping, sloshing, shaking, flapping and sweating, all the whilst the little dancers on TV are moving around like tazmanian devils with the greatest of ease. That's why Richard Simmons was so damned successful. He had real people who were struggling with weight showing you how to move. It made you feel safe and secure and comfortable with your body because it made you think "if that un-thin person can do it, well then so can I". If you have never worked out and are not necessarily comfortable in your own skin then it can be off-putting.
And that's really the only negatives I have about the video. 4. And some may not apply to everybody. Not bad at all for a workout, eh?
And now...the positives
1) It is (or will be after a few more times) as fun as it looks on TV. I am into dance music and have always wanted to learn latin dances and this teaches you some basic moves. Once you have seen the video a couple times, and know what is coming next, and can actually dance and not concentrate so much on the instructions, then it's going to be a blast.
2) The guy does show you modified steps if you cannot keep up with the tazmanian devils that I mentioned before. If you can keep those thoughts in your head while watching them dancer faster then you're okay. (It would be better if they had one of the six dancers do modified moves throughout the video so you could have visual instruction throughout).
3) The beginnger workout does not sling all of those moves at you in one big dance off. They do four (or was it five) small dance sessions using only a few of the moves showed in the intro. Whew! What a relief that was!
4) It was over before I knew it! And that, my friend, is a freaking miracle when it comes to workouts. Yeah I was huffing and puffing and my legs were shaking and my face was bright red but I was still doing it and when he announced "this is your last dance" I was surprised (and a bit relieved as I really wanted to be able to finish the whole video).
5) I'm actually looking forward to doing it again. This is the kicker... I was so tired and didn't have the energy to work out, yet I knew working out would give me more energy, making it easier to do my NEXT workout. It was just taking that huge first step to actually make myself move that killed me. And in the formward motion that is weight loss, this workout today will make me want to eat better, which then again, will give me more energy.
And with that, my friends, my weight loss ball is a rolling. I feel so good and am so proud of myself.
I'll do it again. Multiple times a week, more than likely. In a nut shell the actual workout was fun, semi-easy to follow and short. The music was fun and the instructor gave variations of the hip swaying that those skinny women were doing so quickly.
Now, out of the nutshell and into the nitty gritty...
There are definetely some positives about the video and some negatives. A lot of what I say, should you choose to take it to heart, will also depend on how you feel about your own body, where you are in your weight loss endevors and your place in your life right now, right this minute. I'm sitting here as a 279 pound (127 kilo) (yeah, that's what the scale said this week at my weigh in, so there is my starting point) woman who has, in the past, dropped 72 pounds and has, since her pregnancy, gained most of it back. I am also a woman though, who used to work out in the gym 3 to 4 times a week and did occasional classes. This gives me the wisdom to know not to judge a workout by your first attempt and that it will get a) better b) get easier c) become more fun. Really, huff huff, it will. I am also a woman who has been dragging her feet to begin, again. I am also a woman who ate two (large) cookies for breakfast and almost let that be an excuse not to workout because "I already started the day shitty". I know we're all in different places, all over the weight loss map, so keep that in mind while reading.
So lets start with the negatives and get that out of the way so we can end on a positive note.
1) the intro to the dance steps - it was LENGTHY and intimidating. Seriously, I watched the intro first and practiced the steps and about 10 steps into it I was thinking "for Gods sake how many steps are they going to throw at me in a 20 minute bacis, beginners workout". It almost intimidated me to the point of turning it off and not even moving onto the actual video.
2) workout space - you don't need a lot of space but this would be a hell of a lot easier to do on a concrete or wooden floor. I have carpet and your feet just don't slide as easily as you would like them to.
3) some of the moves, even when broken down, are not for beginners. There was one combination that tripped me up the entire time, and I like to think that I can keep a beat and follow simple steps.
4) If you are not used to working out or are just beginning I can see how it would discourage you from trying it again. Your body is flopping, sloshing, shaking, flapping and sweating, all the whilst the little dancers on TV are moving around like tazmanian devils with the greatest of ease. That's why Richard Simmons was so damned successful. He had real people who were struggling with weight showing you how to move. It made you feel safe and secure and comfortable with your body because it made you think "if that un-thin person can do it, well then so can I". If you have never worked out and are not necessarily comfortable in your own skin then it can be off-putting.
And that's really the only negatives I have about the video. 4. And some may not apply to everybody. Not bad at all for a workout, eh?
And now...the positives
1) It is (or will be after a few more times) as fun as it looks on TV. I am into dance music and have always wanted to learn latin dances and this teaches you some basic moves. Once you have seen the video a couple times, and know what is coming next, and can actually dance and not concentrate so much on the instructions, then it's going to be a blast.
2) The guy does show you modified steps if you cannot keep up with the tazmanian devils that I mentioned before. If you can keep those thoughts in your head while watching them dancer faster then you're okay. (It would be better if they had one of the six dancers do modified moves throughout the video so you could have visual instruction throughout).
3) The beginnger workout does not sling all of those moves at you in one big dance off. They do four (or was it five) small dance sessions using only a few of the moves showed in the intro. Whew! What a relief that was!
4) It was over before I knew it! And that, my friend, is a freaking miracle when it comes to workouts. Yeah I was huffing and puffing and my legs were shaking and my face was bright red but I was still doing it and when he announced "this is your last dance" I was surprised (and a bit relieved as I really wanted to be able to finish the whole video).
5) I'm actually looking forward to doing it again. This is the kicker... I was so tired and didn't have the energy to work out, yet I knew working out would give me more energy, making it easier to do my NEXT workout. It was just taking that huge first step to actually make myself move that killed me. And in the formward motion that is weight loss, this workout today will make me want to eat better, which then again, will give me more energy.
And with that, my friends, my weight loss ball is a rolling. I feel so good and am so proud of myself.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
The Zumba has arrived. It's been sitting on my table this week waiting to be opened and played with. I haven't even touched the box. I've just been too exhausted.
This is always a rough week for me though, as Marco works evenings so I pretty much have the baby all night long (and we all know how well she sleeps!). On top of that she's not been feeling the greatest and is teething. It's been a bit of a nighmare but I swear I'll do the video at least once this weekend. Probably tonight. One you make that first step then the next one is easier, I know this, it's just picking my foot up off of the ground to take it that's so darned difficult.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Oh and today is Sinterklaas in the Netherlands so happy Sinterklaas day!
This is always a rough week for me though, as Marco works evenings so I pretty much have the baby all night long (and we all know how well she sleeps!). On top of that she's not been feeling the greatest and is teething. It's been a bit of a nighmare but I swear I'll do the video at least once this weekend. Probably tonight. One you make that first step then the next one is easier, I know this, it's just picking my foot up off of the ground to take it that's so darned difficult.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Oh and today is Sinterklaas in the Netherlands so happy Sinterklaas day!
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