10 posts tagged “health”

Can you believe it?? 12 weeks and here we are. Things have been going well for me this past week. I set and then nearly reached my goal of a 3 pound weight loss. I say nearly, I was .3 off, but I'm willing to cut myself a break. I just hope I can maintain that 3 pound loss after the weekend. Seems to be my biggest cheating time - naturally.

But overall, I feel really great about who I am and how I've changed over the past 12 weeks!

• Not only have I realized that I need a healthier lifestyle, I've started one.
• I've established good exercise and eating habits.
  
• I have a personal trainer and I've lost 8 pounds since I started that 2 weeks ago.
• I've realized that making healthy decisions isn't a sacrifice per se, but is more of a privilege as I continue to get fit.
• Being the size I want to be is a reality and this time I'm going to reach it!

So as this 12 week challenge wraps up, I'll answer a question Foxsy posed to me last week, but never had a chance to answer.

Would I be interested in another challenge? Well......OF COURSE! Except, I can't promise that I'll post every week as I'd like to focus on posting other things as well so my blog has a wide variety of posts and my hoodies don't abandon me all together. I know I can do that and post every week to the VFC, but as life has picked up I find that I don't always have as much time as I'd like and this tends to fill both my VFC obligations as well as my hood obligations and sometimes I even find myself booooring. However, that doesn't mean I won't be checking in and reporting to the group how I'm doing. I'd love to have a continuous network here on Vox. So Foxsy - if you start up another round, count me in!

So I guess the real question is - did I reach my goal that I set for myself 12 long weeks ago?

Not really - not if you want to look at the numbers I gave you. But now that I've started working with a personal trainer, I know it's going to happen. But I am down 8 pounds that I had when I first started and my pants are starting to need the constant pull up motion...which is good too! Sometimes, I suppose it isn't just about the numbers, it's about how you feel too. So how can I be minus 8 pounds and still have the same measurements? I dunno - I've never understood myself, but I know I'm making improvements. The face is thinning a bit and you can actually see my collar bones a bit. Woohoo! When I make some drastic changes - I'll be sure to give you all the updates in a vain "Look at me!" post.

So if you can stand to wait just a few more weeks, then we can celebrate my transformations as I'm still working away to be the me I want to be! Thanks to all my hoodies and my VFC peeps who continued to encourage me all along the way. Cheers to you all!

Wowza - talk about a lazy bum. That's me, except I've only been lazy in the blog department! It's Week 11, but it feels like it's been ages since my last blog...oh wait, that's because it has been ages. Suppose I should check in the group to make sure that we're not secretly on Week 12, but once again...LAZY!

Anywhooo, since we last spoke, I got a personal trainer! He's fantastic - he motivates, he talks to me about my eating habits, tells me what I can do to improve, lets me know that I'm doing great...the whole enchilada and since we've started I've lots 5 pounds! 5! Count 'em! And we're not talking about Maggie's old school weight loss where I'd lose 'em and then put them back on again. We're talking, kept 'em off for a week! Another 6 pounds and I'll be at the weight I was when I entered college - whoa! Haven't been at that point in a long time - 6 years, yikes! But that's not even my goal.

My goal is a 20 pound weight loss. I actually feel good about this and I feel like this is something I can really do. I knew I could do it before, but I was just stuck. Getting a PT was exactly what I needed. I'm not only held accountable to me, but also to the PT. I love it and D has been really supportive and helping me eat better. I like feeling healthy, I like this whole weight loss thing and for the first time in a long time - I feel like I'm really going to do it. I'm really going to be fit. Who knows - maybe I'll buy my first bikini EVAR!

heh - maybe not, no need to get ahead of myself.

I know VFC is about to wrap up in a week, but to me it just feels like I'm finally starting. Don't worry - I won't bore any of you with my fitness excitement past the 12 weeks, but don't be surprised if you get an omg, look at me post. It's bound to happen, but in the mean time I'm keeping my eye on the prize!

Get fit, get fit, get fit! Keep on truckin' peeps!

Okay, so I missed out on posting for Week 9, but it wasn't because I was too busy slacking. I did okay last week and went to the gym several times. But Week 10 is off to an even better start as D and I have started going to the gym together as well. Cool, cool - I hear you say, but the best part is that I've decided to take that financial plunge into the world of personal training.

I'm going to do it for the simple reason that I need the motivation AND I want to get fit. The fitness challenge has been great in helping me to see that there is such a thing as great fitness goals, but that I might also need someone to push me even further - not only in exercise, but watching what I eat as well.

I'm deciding to take the plunge today and when I go to the gym later this evening, I'll sign up and hand over the keys! Erm, well sort of. You get the point :) I figured since I'm turning 24 tomorrow that there's no better way to celebrate my life than dedicating it to being healthy. Happy early birfday to moi!

I'll be sure to post another update later in the week since I flaked on Week 9's updates.

Carry on Voxy fitness peeps! Keep on truckin'!

Wowzas....Week 8?! I'm not sure I've ever been committed to anything like this for this long. Kudos to me! Of course, I was hanging out my kudos on Week 3. Heh. Anywhooooo, this week has been aggravating in terms of the VFC. I got back to NC on Monday and have been good about working out and even really pushing myself, but I was sorely disappointed today when I stepped on the scale and discovered I had gained 5 pounds. WTF?? 5 pounds?? I thought being healthy meant dropping pounds and people...this isn't a matter of 'muscle weighs more than fat'.

Ugh! Grr. Argh! If one thing good has come out of this week, it's that I'm finally willing to accept what Cranky, Foxsy, and EWQ were telling me the other week about being on a plateau and that I really needed to change up my work out. It's highlighted a serious problem and one that's driving me nuts. I'm even willing to commit to the financial plunge of a personal trainer. Okay, so they are relatively affordable and worth it...but who likes to admit that they need to pay someone to help them lose weight? Well, I guess that is what Jenny Craig does...whatever. I'm doing it. My mind is made up. I just have to work out the kinks and then it's do or die. Eeem...okay not do or die, but do or keep on getting fat.

I also realized that for the past 4 years I haven't really lost weight and only maintained. I'm not sure why it took me so long to see this or the fact that I was not happy with it. Waaah! Okay, so apparently I'm really whiny this week. Carry on - I know I will be!

Week 7 already? Well, we all know what that means...time to recommit. Per Foxsy's request, I've decided to continue in my Vox Fitness Challenge and to recommit to the program. It still makes me excited to get up and work out all for the goal of myself but also for the goals set within the group. While this week I haven't seen any major changes, I have been able to continue M maintenance as I'm not at home and immersed in my normal routine.

This week, I've been able to focus on on actually eating healthy and the whole concept of not overeating. I love to eat so that's been important to help fall into a pattern in terms of eating habits. Ab crunches, tennis rounds, and nature walks have been on the agenda this past week and I have definitely enjoyed them. More than anything, I've liked changing up the fitness routine - this way I'll be really excited to go back to the norm next week at home.

Nothing much to report until I get back into a heavy fitness routine, so I'll save all my crazy updates until then. Until next time my Voxy fitness peeps!

Wow...nearly forgot what week it was. The weeks keep flying by and especially since I finally feel like I've found a workout that really works for me. I can't be 100% sure that I'm getting the all-time greatest work-out ever, but I feel like I get things accomplished. When I'm at home it's consisting of 40 min cardio and strength training using a balance ball, bosu ball, and resistance bands. I find that I'm preferring these much more than actual machines. Now that I'm off visiting friends again, I've bought a balance ball to take with me to use at my friends house. I'm lacking the cardio element, but I am getting my heart rate up with the workouts that came with the balance ball.

I miss the cardio, but to make up for it D and I play tennis on Tuesdays for an hour. We've decided to make this a weekly habit - I like that for the simple reason that it changes up the workout routines. Things are going well this week and while I don't particularly feel like I'm shedding serious inches, I do feel more fit. I guess that's more important?

I remember when I started the VFC, I stated that I didn't actually think I'd make progress other than improving how I actually felt about myself. I said this not to be pessimistic, but to be realistic. For awhile now, I've just plateaued and I can't break the wall to get to my goal. I just maintain. I think it's going to take a major life change or at least a dedication to a personal trainer. While I could do that at home, I don't think I'd get the most out of it until I'm more settled in one place. Somehow that feels like an excuse too. I'm not sure if I'll go through with the personal trainer at home, even though it wouldn't be a bad thing to treat myself to it. Bah - well, I'm okay with maintaining at this point as I'm still healthier than I was a year ago (physically, mentally, and emotionally). BUT, if anyone has any ideas on how to get past this wall of mine. I'm all ears.

6 weeks down. 6 to go! Keep it up VFC peeps! :) 

Wow, what happened to Week 4? I mean, I behaved - went to the gym, watched what I was eating, and didn't cheat too much. Okay, so I just ate a candy bar but I was really craving sweets. I thought it best to give in once as opposed to eating everything else under the sun to satisfy that one craving. No measurements have been taken, I'll go down that path later this week.

If we're being honest then I think this week will be a tough one because I'm already not feeling it. Not that I'm anti-exercise this week, but I don't feel like me. I feel....out of place. Maybe Monday will bring me back to myself, but I'm not holding my breath. I just keep staring at the screen and everything I want to say, I feel isn't important or that it shouldn't be said.

Blah, blah, blah - on with week 5.

Catch ya on the flip side.

I'm back, baby!

At the advice of Foxsy, I didn't totally give up on Week 3 and accept that I was going to be a fatty, but I will still admit that I didn't do nearly as much fitness challenging as I had hoped (both originally and even after re-evaluating). In order to make up for this blunder, I have decided to tack on Week 3 at the end and conveniently make it Week 13. I know I'll feel better about it instead of knowing that a better part of that week went to waste in terms of exercise.

Not to worry though, as it is time to focus on Week 4! So far, so good! I'm back to the gym and back to counting calories. Things are good so far and I plan on definitely keeping up the good work this week. I'm even going to treat myself to an extra day at the gym - to help make up for last week's fatty errors.

I obviously didn't make any progress from last week, but I already knew that would happen. I did put on a pound or two, but as you know I'm not counting pounds...well, not really. I haven't measured myself, because I'm giving myself a week before I get down on myself about missing out on last week. Also! I'm pre pre-planning my workouts for the next time I'm away. I'm going to go ahead and write them out so it's not a matter of not having time to plan. I'll plan while I can and implement when the time comes. I've also decided that I'm just going to have to stick to a morning regiment as I know that I just don't have motivation to exercise in the evenings. As much as I like sleeping in - that will just have to wait for the weekends. Mornings work best and they're going to work best while I'm away from home as well! There's no need for an out of sight, out of mind philosophy as I'm always thinking about the challenge and I even feel bad when I goof, but know that I'm not making up Week 3 for you guys - I'm re-doing it for me. I owe myself that much!

Week 4 - here I come! Woohoo!

Oh hai, peeps.

Okay, so I'm really behind here and I haven't been behaving as well as I would have hoped. Week 2 started out great with a pre-designed workout at the gym. Cardio, weight training, abs - the whole enchilada. I felt really good about it and I talked with the trainer to discuss my goals and ways to keep help me reach those goals.

Things were going great and I managed to work out twice on the new work out plan before I left to visit friends; however, I haven't been as good as I had hoped and haven't been working out since I left. However, I have been behaving in terms of eating. I knew I probably wouldn't stick to my on-the-go workout plan, so I've been conscientious of the food in-take. I think in order to make Week 3 really work, I need to be honest about what I'm really going to do.

So Week 2 - only slight failure. Week 3 - time to be realistic.

I think it's pretty safe to say I'm not going to get in the desired amount of cardio. However, I can still continue to do my abdominal work and also work out my arms/shoulders via the stretchy bands. Then, once I get back home (at the start of Week 4), I'll go hard again on my work outs and really crack down. I don't want to lie to myself while I'm away as I'll only feel bad for not completing what I know is not realistic.

So onto Week 3 - I'm ready! Bring it on!

ps. I'll be checking back in again later this week to let you know how it's going. It's my way of not loosing track of my realistic goals and plus I know this is a short post so I'll report back with more details when I'm not so scatter-brained.

Keep on, keepin' on!

Oh hai! It's February 4th and we all know what that means....

w00t, w00t!!!

Are you pumped, because I am! I'm in full swing and have not only started my daily workouts but I've even set a few goals and made a few challenge plans. As I was reading up and preppin' for the challenge, Foxsydee made quite a few AWESOME suggestions for staying the course. I decided that she was right, per usual, and took her advice.

Let's review Foxsy's suggestions and how I'm implementing them.

Foxsydee's Suggestions

1. Organize your workouts
2. Keep a food diary
3. Set a goal

Maggie's Implementations

1. Lookie! It's a pretty fandangle of an organized workout! I even made one for every week of the challenge, so all I have to do on Sunday night is to write in what I plan to do. Maybe I'll go for a swim one day or focus solely on cardio. Of course, I could go hardcore and do all, but that remains to be seen. Check out Week 1's plan!
   

   VFC: Week 1
2. This is the only time it will be suitable for you to read my diary! To help me keep track of what I'm eating, I've decided to write it down. Better yet, I'm counting calories too and I'm receiving help from the Calorie King, himself! Just type in your delicious meal and find out how much you're scarffin' down. It could be more than you think! Honesty moment: I feel like this is where I'll slip up the most...keeping track of my food on a daily basis. I may not always write it down or count calories, but I'm going to give it a go.
   

   Food Diary
3. GOOOOOOOOAL. Oh wait...wrong kind. :) Well, I guess it's finally time for me to set a goal. For the VFC, I'm setting a goal of a 2 inch loss in my waist. Yes, that might not be much or maybe it's too much, I'm not sure - but I know I would be happy with that result at the end of these 12 weeks. I feel like it's also do-able. Maybe I should set more of a goal for myself - but other than those bitch-ass two inches, I can't think of anything else I'm dying to have...other than a non-flat butt, but I don't see that one happen without the help of Dr. 90210. So two inches in the waist, I'd be happy with a loss in the boobage and buttoxical regions - but I won't cry any tears if there's no change. Just to revisit the stats for anyone who missed it the first time, here is my starting  point.
   
   Current pant size: 14
   Bust measurement: 44 inches
   Waist measurement: 38 inches
   Hip measurement: 44.5 inches
   
   

Maggie goes Workout B-a-n-a-n-a-s
Now, I'm not sure how closely you paid attention to that Workout chart of mine, but you'll notice that on Feb. 7, I have written in "W.O. w/ Mitchell." Mitchell is the homeslice over at the gym I'm currently rockin' out and today I asked him if he could help me jump off a cliff. No wait, that's not right. More like, help me off my plateau. Yes. Plateau. I explained that I'd reached a plateau and I was currently seeking some workout advice for ways to shape up, so I don't have to ship out. On Thursday, we have a schweaty date to devise a new workout plan. I'm pumped! I also asked about personal training options, but I'm going to hold off on that until I see what this does for me. He said he could show me a new routine for free that would jump-start my body and would work for me for probably 5 weeks. I'm going to give it a go because I always support free and then after that, if I want to get crazy and spend a little dough, then maybe I'll do a few sessions with a personal trainer. Don't worry, I'll keep you posted!

Group Help Needed
Going into this, I stated that it was going to be a challenge for me especially since I had a few weeks planned where I would travelling. So I'm calling on you, dear group members to hit me up with some ideas of ways to continue my fitness while on the road. M-----l mentioned a travel fitness device, but I've asked around and can't seem to find out the name or even find it in stores. Thoughts? Comments? If that doesn't work, what are some workouts that I can do outside of the gym (not including the obvious crunches and walks). Help a fitness sista out!

Feel Good Tip #1
I realized from my initial post that there were a few hoodies and friends out there that mentioned they had wanted to join, but couldn't at this time. Either they had prior fitness commitments or the timing just wasn't right for them. Naturally, I got to thinking and while fitness is vitally important and helps boost self esteem, there are other ways to help the average person feel better and good about themselves. I hope Foxsy doesn't mind and I hope the group doesn't mind, but I decided to share a weekly tip on something you can do to change/improve/feel good about yourself - a bit outside the fitness realm. These are things that I do or products I use that help pamper my body and my self-esteem. This week's tip is courtesy of Dove.
 
Feel Good Tip #1: Firming Body Lotion

Now, I don't know about you, but growing up, my body couldn't keep up and I grew a lot faster than my skin was ready for. The result...stretch marks. Ew, right? While I was over in NL, I was perusing Izzo's endless cabinets of goodies and stumbled across Dove Firming Lotion. My curiosity got the better of me and being the skeptic I was figured I had nothing to lose by trying it out. Hell, I didn't pay for it - why not give it a shot? So I followed the instructions and rubbed it in circular motions of my stretch marks that were along my stomach, arms, and boobage area. You can imagine my surprise when I started to notice a decrease in ugly stretch marks?! I'm not saying it cures as I do still have remnants, but it definitely helps to enhance the elasticity in your skin. Dove realizes this isn't a miracle lotion and you won't be 20 pounds lighter in 2 weeks, but they do guarantee firmer skin. There are lots of other brands out there who sell similar products, Dove is just the one I've tried and liked. Go ahead and start pampering, your skin will thank you later! :)

Yay Week 1! Yay Vox Fitness Challenge! Yay Groupies! Let's rock it out!