Setting Goals and Following Through

Everyone who has ever tried to lose weight or get healthy can tell you that the hardest part of starting something new isn't found when setting the goal, rather it is in the follow through.  Admittedly this is where I tend to do most of my failing, but not this time.  It is much harder for me to fail this time around because I have a trainer and a doctor watching my back and I feel like I am changing my life for the better.  It has been slow going for the last few weeks, but I am still making progress.  I am now down 18 pounds from when I first began keeping track and I hope to continue.  It isn't so much the decrease in weight that has me excited, but the increase in muscle that my doctor is measuring.  I can't believe how much different I feel and how I want to make better choices.  This doesn't mean that I don't occasionally treat myself, but now when I have a piece of pizza I exercise a little longer, or I eat a smaller dinner and I appreciate the give and take of a healthier diet. 

This week we fine tuned my caloric intake and workout routine and according to the math I might be able to ring in the new year by hitting my weight loss goal!!  This will require hard work and determination, but I am confident that I can keep on keeping on.  Also, I teamed up with my mom in her Biggest Loser contest at work and I really want us to win.  So, keep your fingers crossed and hopefully we can all hit our healthy goals this year together. 
Best Food of the Week:
Brussels Sprouts!! I got 4 recipe ideas from Cooking Light and I have devoured two of them this week already.  Hit me up if you want the recipes!
Worst Food of the Week:
Boca Southwest "burgers" I think there was actual fiberfill in the center and it marked the first time I had spit something out rather than swallow it.  This really says a lot seeing as I swallowed that curdled protein shake a few months ago!
Best Exercise of the Week:
While I am awaiting the grand opening of my new gym I have written a few cardio workouts for myself and they have kicked my butt!  I even did one with my friend Peggy last weekend and she loved it.  I guess I am becoming a novice personal trainer too.  Ha ha.
Best Workout Jam of the Week:
This week I have been shaking my groove thang to The Reality Bites Soundtrack....brings back memories
Becky This Week:  Here is some lovely photo action of me on the boat last weekend

MIA

Hello Faithful Blog Readers,
I am sorry that I have been MIA for a few weeks now, but I promise next week I will be back with a BANG!
I hope you are all experiencing fitness success.
The last few weeks have been very busy with work and travels that took me out of town as well as my fantastic high school reunion.
The last two weeks of weigh in's have offered some small setbacks, due largely in part to beer, wine and cheese it consumption, coupled with my gym relocating and being closed for renovation, but I am back on track.  I hope to have excellent news for you next week.  In the meantime here are some picks for you:
Best Food of the Week:
watermelon..I just can't get enough of it.  Also, cherries bring up a close second, yum!
Worst Food of the Week:
Trader Joe's pre marinated chicken pieces.  Peggy warned me, but I didn't listen!  Skip these for sure.
Best Exercise of the Week:
This week I had a great old school workout with my friend Mary.  I just did some treadmill on an incline, tossed in a bit of elliptical and topped it off with some weights.
Best Workout Jam of the Week:
Lately I have been on this huge George Michael/WHAM! fix.  Good stuff!
Becky This Week:

The Devil and the Wii Fit Board

I learned two VERY important things this week:

Mauri Windsor is the devil
AND
The Wii Fit board gets really slippery in 90 degree weather

But....allow me to start at the beginning.  Late last week I found out that my gym will be relocating to Blaine and in the meantime they will be closed to get everything ready for the grand reopening.  Since I couldn't live without my gym, I don't want to join a new one for the next 4 weeks so I must come up with a game plan to keep my workouts going. So loyal readers, I am making a pledge to myself to keep working out in the meantime.  How will I do this you ask?  By dusting off the unused exercise equipment and mountains of exercise videos that I have amassed over the years.  This week I have made two attempts that lead to the two very important things I learned this week. 
Mauri Windsor is the devil.  A few years ago I was home sick one day and got sucked in by the Windsor Pilates infomercial. When I first got it I did it with regularity, but it has been years since I cleared the dust on the cover.  Tuesday night I decided to slap it in and do some Pilates.  The first exercise is the 300 where your body is in a pike position and you wave your arms up and down.  Despite the fact that I was suffocating with my body in that awkward position  it felt good to wave my arms around like a human powered fan.  The next few exercises went on without incident until I got to the seal.  What was supposed to feel like a massage to my spine when I rolled up to clap my feet together actually felt like an amazing combination of muscle pulls throughout my torso and into my legs.  Perhaps I need a softer mat?  Dripping in sweat and utterly defeated I only made it through 25 minutes of the 40 minute video.  I might go back this weekend, but I think I need a breather. Let's just say it was WAY better than the Denise Austin Pilates where she talks like she is pinching her nostrils together, but still a challenge. 
The Wii Fit board gets really slippery in 90 degree weather. I have been continuing my use of the Wii Fit as there are many great exercises disguised as games that can be done.  I will admit that I have to resist the urge to punch the TV when the little scale thing makes the UUMPH sound, but I try not to let it get to me.  Frankly, that little animated scale could lose a few pounds itself!  Bastard! On Wednesday night (Admittedly after dinner and a Budweiser Tall Boy at the Larson's)  I was getting up some really good momentum with the Wii Fit Golds Gym game that I rented.  After about 15 minutes in my 90 degree apartment I had worked up a really good sweat doing some cardio boxing when I clumsily stepped back on the board and then slid sideways.  I eventually caught myself, but not before smashing into my coffee table and spilling a GIANT glass of water all over my couch.  I may have also yelled something to the effect of "Dammit Gold's Gym guy...look what you made me do!"  My neighbors are currently trying to get out of their leases. 
All and all I am still making progress.  Next week I am going to try to do a makeshift Bikram yoga session in my apartment which just means I am going to do a Yoga video with the air conditioning off.  I also have this Biggest Loser video workout that I bought a few months ago because it was only $5, but I have never taken the plastic off.  Stay tuned for my recap. 

Best Food of the Week:
turkey tenderloin wrapped in bacon courtesy of my mom
Worst Food of the Week:
I have honestly not eaten anything bad this week, but I ate a bunch of bad for me Cheese Its when I was camping. 
Best Exercise of the Week:
I really like the Wii Fit Gold's Gym Cardio Boxing, so I think I might try to find a used copy on Amazon.  Best Workout Jam of the Week:
This week I have been enjoying some Florence + The Machine to get me going
Becky This Week:

 Here I am with all of my new tricks!