October's OHANA -- Exercise Challenge

[bangzoom6877]

260/900

30 minutes of yoga today. I'm feeling a little tired today, because I didn't get good sleep last night. That seems to happen to me a lot on Sunday nights. My lower back, while much better today, was still a little stiff. So I took it easy with some yoga. And my back feels much better now. Hoping to go back to some cardio tomorrow.

This coming weekend is Columbus Day weekend and that means our annual trip to Lancaster, PA and Hershey! Not going to Hershey Park, but going to take the boys to Chocolate World. We are leaving early Saturday morning and heading straight there. Then we check into our hotel for one night in Lancaster. We are taking the boys to Dutch Wonderland on Sunday and guess what? They have Dole Whips there!! Like a little piece of Disney closer to home.

Before our nice weekend I have a long week to finish at work. I'm in charge of our school's student-created/student-run musical competition, known as SING but it is a local NYC thing, so a lot of people haven't heard of it. Together with my top student leadership (who aren't part of a SING team, but neutral), this Thursday and Friday we are selecting producers for each team (the students who lead their entire team). It's a lot of work but an amazing process to watch from the start of the show. The two teams ready have their scripts written, so editing is all that is left for it. They will choose songs to use but they write their own lyrics to go with the theme of their show. Teachers and alumni judge, and it's 2 nights in February. Then in March, our winning team has a competition with two other schools' winning teams to come up with one big winner, and the all of proceeds from that go to Relay for Life for the American cancer Society. It's a wonderful experience to watch these kids create their own shows, so passionate and committed to their hard work. I'm blessed to truly love what I do, both teaching and SING.

 

[SarahDisney]

15 minute Pilates video this morning

229/1000

I'm hoping I can do a walk/run tomorrow, which is at least 60 minutes, but ... unfortunately I've been having some back pain the past few days, and I don't want to aggravate it. Send good thoughts my way!

 

[dizzyr]

In at 180/1350 so far for the month.

Tonight my daughter an I went for our first (well my second but first with her) C25K training run - it was great. I really thought I'd hate running but I don't. Of course I only ran a small fraction of the time I was supposed to.

Tomorrow I'll get a big jump on my number - aquafit in the morning then about an hour walking to pick up the kids after work and take them to the pool where I'll swim laps and drag them through the lazy river (it's exhausting lol). Total time will be about 3 hours! Good thing I was a lazy butt on the weekend! Lol.

 

[hmack]

+ 31 for me.

I'm flustered with myself. The week before my last weigh in I worked really hard to meet my September goal, ate well and hit my first weight loss goal.

This past week I don't know what happened. It's like I stand on the edge and I can see what's possible and then instead of taking it to the next level, I retreat. This morning, I stepped on the scale and I knew what was going to happen and sure enough there it was, the number I was pretty sure was coming. and I know...I know, it's just a number and weight fluctuates pretty wildly, but I also know that I let myself down. I didn't try. I know what's possible and I went in the opposite direction.

So this weeks' question for the group is this - what's at least one thing that motivates you to exercise?

 

[hmack]

Team OHANA October is offically true blue - as a team we've hit 10.76%

Congratulations to snels who joined the orange club!


bangzoom6877 - sounds like a crazy, busy week for sure but I'm so happy for you that you get to do something that you love and feel passionate about!

sarahdisney - take care of yourself and we're sending good vibes your way.

dizzyr - awesome job with that run!!

 

[bangzoom6877]

+ 31 for me. I'm flustered with myself. The week before my last weigh in I worked really hard to meet my September goal, ate well and hit my first weight loss goal. This past week I don't know what happened. It's like I stand on the edge and I can see what's possible and then instead of taking it to the next level, I retreat. This morning, I stepped on the scale and I knew what was going to happen and sure enough there it was, the number I was pretty sure was coming. and I know...I know, it's just a number and weight fluctuates pretty wildly, but I also know that I let myself down. I didn't try. I know what's possible and I went in the opposite direction. So this weeks' question for the group is this - what's at least one thing that motivates you to exercise?

I could totally relate to this, when it comes to my eating. Food is my biggest weakness. I love to eat all different types of foods, including very healthy ones, but our family gatherings and socializing always centers around food. And I don't want that to change. I don't think it is necessary for it to change. What I try to do is make the best choices possible when I'm at a social gathering (which is very often as we see family and friends pretty much every weekend), and enjoy both the food and the company. Every bite does taste exactly the same as the first bite did, or even further, sometimes the first bite tastes the best! I try to tell myself that as much as possible. And fill up on the healthier, lower calorie foods (but making sure they're foods I enjoy at the same time) before I go for the higher calorie ones or the sweets.

As for exercise, my health motivates me to do that regularly. I initially started working out regularly 12 years ago because I was 25 pounds overweight and my cholesterol was 219, and the breakdown of my cholesterol wasn't so hot. I was only 25 years old and I hadn't had kids yet. We were married almost a year and I decided to take control of my health. I did it in baby steps, cutting out junk food and soda first and making sure to weigh and measure my food for the correct portions. Eventually it just became the way I do things, my daily routine. My cholesterol went down and by the time I returned to the doctor 3 months into this, total cholesterol was around 150 and the breakdown was ideal. I knew I had to keep up with this lifestyle in order to maintain my health, and I wanted to be able to be active and healthy for when we were to have children and also teach them the good habits.

I exercised according to my doctor's instructions when I was pregnant, both times, until I couldn't handle it. I listened to my body to make sure everything was safe. After my first baby (and a 45 pound weight gain), I lost the baby weight by the time he was 6 months old. Again, I listened to my body. I gained 43 with my second, joined weight watchers when he was 4 days old, and it took me only 5 months to lose the baby weight that time (I was 30). I'm a lifetime member and still follow weight watchers. It really became a habit. Keep asking yourself what you want to see in a month from now, in 3 months, in 6 months, etc. it could be something as simple as a small drop in blood pressure or cholesterol, or being one size lower. But something realistic for sure. Remember, this is supposed to be for the long haul, so forge ahead, don't look back at any past mistakes (because we all know that we have all made mistakes, we are human after all), and be proud of who and what you are!

 

[Tasha228]

42/900

 

[MRS AR]

Catching up today.
10/2 - 31 min run
45 min elliptical
10/3 - 20 min run (overslept)
10/4 - 120 min walk
10/6 - 22 min run
45 min elliptical
10/7 - 27 min run

Looks like everyone is enjoying the cooler temps that have sporadically shown up.

Thanks for hosting.

 

[SarahDisney]

So this weeks' question for the group is this - what's at least one thing that motivates you to exercise?

No idea.
I'm trying to lose weight, so I guess that's a part of it, but part of it is probably also boredom (I'm not working full time right now and I hate it because I'm always bored), and I don't know what else.
I'm afraid that if I look too hard at my motivation, I'll poke holes in all my reasons and then stop exercising.

65 minutes for me today - walk/run (+warm up & cool down) - upped my running interval to 3:30, which was really hard, but I did it!

New total: 294/1000

Back is feeling a little better. I took something for it this morning and was able to go out for my walk/run with no pain. It's hurt a little occasionally since, but never for more than 1-2 minutes at a time.

 

[Zoesmama03]

Oh my what a week so far. ahh. I'm only up to 40/900. Lots of catch up to do.

 

[hmack]

Updated! And I think I've got everyone the right color, but I hope you all will double check and keep me honest.

Special congratulations to the newest members of Team Orange:
Sarahdisney
Mrs AR

I hope to join you in the next couple of days.

Bangzoom - thank you for the words and for sharing part of your story.

Tasha & Mrs AR - "hi"

Sarahdisney - It's good to hear that your back is doing better. thank you to you also, for sharing part of your story. And congrats on the awesome run!

Zoesmama03 - crazy weeks happen - but we BELIEVE in you and I know you'll get the exercise in when you can. Just remember to take care of yourself amid the insanity.


This may sound crazy, but one of my many motivations (like health, setting a good example...) is that working out makes me feel my definition of "sexy". you know? I think that everyone has their own definition of that word and mine is equated with feeling strong and confident, maybe a little internal swagger, comfortable in my skin wherever the environment, etc. To me strong is sexy and I feel strong after a good workout. I may not look or smell particulary fetching - but I feel it.

 

[bangzoom6877]

310/900

50 minutes of cardio yesterday. The back is feeling much better and I'm so glad about that!

 

[bangzoom6877]

Updated! And I think I've got everyone the right color, but I hope you all will double check and keep me honest. Special congratulations to the newest members of Team Orange: Sarahdisney Mrs AR I hope to join you in the next couple of days. Bangzoom - thank you for the words and for sharing part of your story. Tasha & Mrs AR - "hi" Sarahdisney - It's good to hear that your back is doing better. thank you to you also, for sharing part of your story. And congrats on the awesome run! Zoesmama03 - crazy weeks happen - but we BELIEVE in you and I know you'll get the exercise in when you can. Just remember to take care of yourself amid the insanity. This may sound crazy, but one of my many motivations (like health, setting a good example...) is that working out makes me feel my definition of "sexy". you know? I think that everyone has their own definition of that word and mine is equated with feeling strong and confident, maybe a little internal swagger, comfortable in my skin wherever the environment, etc. To me strong is sexy and I feel strong after a good workout. I may not look or smell particulary fetching - but I feel it.

That doesn't sound crazy at all! I feel much better about myself when I'm exercising regularly as well. After a workout, I feel stronger and automatically feel like I look better. I have some body image issues and still see the same person I was before losing weight, when I look in the mirror. Everyone thinks I'm crazy. Size 8 isn't a large size, but I'm very hard on myself.

 

[Rose&Mike]

235/930 Thanks!
Mostly walking.

I'm in for 1500 this month. 78/1500

Thanks so much for hosting, Heather! Love the theme.

Rose! I am so glad to see you here. I've been really thinking about you lately and hoping everything was all right.

Thanks!
I have not been in a very good place and very antisocial this summer, both here and in real life. I have a nasty case of achilles tendinitis in both feet (probably a small tear in one, but I skipped the mri and went to therapy) and Mike continued to job search hard this summer. It has been all very mentally exhausting. You can't really talk about looking for a new job when you already have one! Add to that we found out in July that his company is being sold.

Anyhow, I have kept up with my mile a day. And I am very happy to report that Mike accepted a position in the Charlotte area and we moved last week! It went crazy fast and I still can't believe that after years of looking for something new, we have finally moved! We are in an extended stay and in the process of buying a house, probably just over the border in SC.

So that's what has been going on. My eating has been terrible and I have no idea how I am going to finish w&d in a month, but I am really excited about our new adventure. Still don't know where I am going to work, but I am sure I will eventually find something.

 

[dizzyr]

375/1350

Will catch up on the posts and write more when I get to work

 

[SlightlyocdDisneyfan]

Another 20 minutes today... total of 130/900.

Rose&Mike - So great to hear things turning around for you! It sounds like you have a lot of new adventures ahead.

What motivates me is having another reason to work out besides just improving my health (i.e., meet a friend, fulfill a challenge). Otherwise, it's way too easy to talk myself out of a workout.

 

[sullymom]

Caught the dreaded head cold. Got out for a walk yesterday and a run today.
130/900

 

[SarahDisney]

Today:
10 minute exercise video
28 minutes walking

New Total: 332/1000

 

[bangzoom6877]

360/900

50 minutes of cardio today.

I won't be logging any exercise minutes tomorrow or Friday, as I am working late to audition prospective student producers for my show. However, we are going to Lancaster, PA this weekend (leaving early Saturday morning) and I'll definitely be walking plenty so I will get lots of minutes in! We come back Sunday night and I will go back to my regular workouts on Monday. Looking forward to having Columbus Day off Monday and sleeping in a little. And by sleeping in, I mean around 7am and not the usual 5am lol.

 

[hmack]

SOOOO much exciting stuff! I can't wait to update the numbers again!

I'm at 41 minutes today, a short lunch break walk and a short run.

249/1200, inching closer to that 25%.